But at this phase of my life, I want to write and not have to think about whether a song is going to be a hit. I want to explore the music that inspires me, and I don't want to ape myself.

Music, as many people have said, is the universal language. Of course points are made which make you think about things, but ultimately it makes you feel. And that's why people remember more songs that have meant something during their life than films. They start to define periods in your life, and that's kind of the beauty of it.

Who you are as a performer is one thing, but when you're making records, you're dealing with musicians' tastes, their goals, their wants, their needs, everyone's individual pride.

I'm not sober. I haven't done drugs in 3 1/2 years, so I call myself clean.

Great classic music that I've been turned on to has not only inspired and influenced me, but it has had an effect on my songwriting.

Processed pig is white trash meat. Some people call it Spam.

It doesn't matter what kind of problems a family is having; it should always stay in the family.