As much as I try to grow as a lyricist, I tend to laugh at even calling myself that, because I think that my actual talents lie more in arrangements than they do words.

My thought with harmonies and melodies in general, is that if it doesn't come right away then it's never going to come at all.

I was a very good student until about sophomore year, and that's when I just became so disillusioned with the whole thing that I just became an awful student. I was still making good grades. But I was cutting class three days a week and faking papers that I got off the internet.

You always know when a real inspiration is behind the melody, arrangements, even lyrics. And I know that's really vague, but it's true.

I'm sure that's every adolescent's complaint about their home town. When a city is unstimulating, you get pretty isolated.

I love the community and the entertainment too much. I'm used to it - it's what I saw first.

I put myself in the studio and I really made sure to say, 'Well, if I would normally reach for a trumpet, why don't I reach for the next nearest instrument instead?'