I started listening to classical music when I was in my early teens. Prior to that, I listened to pop records or band records.

I like songs that are part of a dramatic texture, and therefore I like the scenes to be active. I wanna follow the story and that means you lean on the actors.

I took piano lessons when I was 6. I didn't want to go on with it. I don't remember being moved by a piece of music.

One of the hardest things about writing lyrics is to make the lyrics sit on the music in such a way that you're not aware there was a writer there.

One difference between poetry and lyrics is that lyrics sort of fade into the background. They fade on the page and live on the stage when set to music.

Generally, the best recording is the original cast, because that's the way the piece grew: integrally, with them.

By the time I was 22, I was a professional. A young and flawed professional, but not an amateur.