I try to be genuine. I try to be real. It's such a subjective thing, but I try to convey an emotion.

The funny thing about gold is how quickly it can tarnish.

You have to invest something [in your work]. If you don't risk something that really matters to you - like your integrity, or your pride, or your time, or your security, or your reputation - if you don't risk yourself, you can hear it right away.

The way I figured it, keeping quiet was safe. Words could betray you if you choose the wrong ones, or mean less if you used too many.

You apply the skills you use to produce your own book to make an anthology. Shaping. Rhythm.

People say, "I can't take you seriously because you're so young." But I think when you're young, what you feel is more pure.

I always felt like I could combine good pop songs that are easy for people to like with a real person and a real mind and integrity. So maybe I bring people into that pop world who don't usually find themselves there because there's not enough stuff for them to get excited about otherwise. I try to be genuine. I try to be real. It's such a subjective thing, but I try to convey an emotion.