A true measure of success is just to work hard and get my music out there and just be myself and be real.
I think that a great song needs the full package. I think that a great song needs everything from lyrics, to melody, to music, and it needs to be interesting and it needs take you in and swallow you and swish you around, and then regurgitate you back in better form.
I'd say Ernest Hemingway would be a blast to get drunk with.
Johnny Depp and I think Woody Allen would be fun to hang out with.
I write songs so that people can make them into what it means to them as well.
I tend to not try and listen to a lot of other artists while I'm writing, because if I hear something that's brilliant.