The writing of a melody is an emotional moment; success doesn't make it easy.

I'm not one for walking the beaches humming a melody. I love the discipline of sitting in the studio, writing and listening. That is my domain.

I find I'm not one of these composers that are, you know, walking along a beach or walking on the mountainside in County Donegal that's, you know, 'Oh, a melody.' It's more a matter of eventually taking that moment with me to the studio, and it begins to evolve.

Fame and success are very different things.

There is no formula to it. Writing every song is a little journey. The first note has to lift you.

When making music I sink myself into the process as deeply as I can and forget all of the success.