Something I stand for is being brave enough to invest in creative ideas that I firmly believe in and bringing those to life.

I had a job since I was old enough to work - since I was, like, 14.

I think it's natural for a creative to be sensitive. If I'm in the studio and I write something, I think it's the greatest thing in the world; it's like my baby. I just made something out of thin air that exists now in a tangible form. It's the biggest thrill in my life.

When you sample something, you're using the crutch of borrowing chords and melodies from a song that's already great, that's already stood the test of time, that's already special. When you're trying to do it all from scratch, you're writing something brand new that has to stand on its own.

Being a screenwriter is not enough for a full creative life.

You have an entire generation of kids who grew up with the idea that music is something that you can download for free.