Trying to be really dark and alienating just felt exhausting to me, so I started going back to the music that I grew up with, whether it was African music or pop music. It took me away from being overly self-conscious about what I was doing.

None of my songs are written 'about' someone or something, they all just sort of tumble out unannounced, like the worst kind of house guest.

I'm looking forward to seeing more of the US, and hopefully spending some of the summer in Europe playing festivals. It's early days though, so who knows.

I decided to create a really good laptop recording situation and to learn how to write that way, rather than have the perfect stuff around.

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

There are literally endless options and possibilities, and often no clear or obvious path in how to make that choice, and nobody to tell you to go this way or that. But somehow, it works itself out if you trust in the process, which is often easier said than done.

As a visual arts teacher, I have to keep my mind open. I have explores styles from pointillism to cubism.