Political statements are usually more direct, and it works with the upbeat music as well, for some reason, the directness of your statements.

In terms of political things, I think it's important to be more direct in terms of political statements. I think in terms of philosophical and things that you plant things and see them grow lyrically or musically, it's okay to be subtle.

A lot of pop music is based on trying to make people remember it so that they'll buy it. To me, it was not about that.

I've worked with some great orchestras and amazing classical musicians, but I don't like the conceptualization of classical music as an elitist form of art.

I think every artist should follow their vision, their hearts is what they need to reveal, not something that society is looking out for.

Harout Pamboukjian is one of the biggest Armenian folk singers in the world. In the '70s, he was making these records that were really Zeppelin-influenced.

It's important for all people, and not just people in bands, to speak out on social justice issues. That means journalists or plumbers have just as much of a responsibility to do that as artists.