Writing is a necessary thing for me, just to keep myself level. It has beneficial effects on my life.

There's always pain around. That's one thing you can guarantee in life - there will always be a surplus of pain.

The big problem with songwriting for me is starting a new song. It's the thing where all the anguish exists, not in the writing of the song, but the starting of the new song.

Texting is apocalyptic on some level. It's a reduction of things.

The more settled I've become, the more problematic my characters have become. There was a period when I wrote sensitive and gentle songs and these came at a time when life was at its most destructive. I think you write about what you need, on some level.

Writing screenplays makes me a better musician because it clears my head. After writing a movie, I go running back to music as fast as I can.