Don't get me wrong, I have the utmost respect for anyone who has the nerve to even attempt to do music today, but this is just about what excites me.

I went to this boy's choir school when I was growing up, and I think that the first time that I consciously started making music was when this one kid joined our class. He was an amazing pianist and would come up with all these ideas. I've always had a really competitive side, so I saw him doing that, and was like, "I have to try writing songs as well."

I was also always interested in the aesthetic realm - architecture and that kind of stuff - but music was my first love.

It's sad that some people still believe that artists die poor. This is not the case in this day and age.

You may be surprised to know that growing up, I wanted to be a writer of children's books.

I also got encouragement from my teachers at primary school but one person in particular who had a significant impact on my lean towards art is Mr. Luigi St. Omer. Mr. St. Omer was the one who always reminded me that I should not settle for less than greatness in my art. He saw that I had the potential and he helped me develop that talent.

When I'm writing, those ideas are seldom inspired by music itself. I won't often listen to an artist and come up with an idea.