Any ideas of 'other' are complicated, and otherness is relative to personal ideas of 'normal.'

My favorite period is when we lived in the land of the three-minute song. The Motown thing – I thought they were genius in knowing that’s as much as a listener can take.

I’m really good at melodic and sonic things, but I don’t really think I have anything to say. But I really enjoy the puzzle-making of taking words and adding a melody to them.

I think secretly I’ve realized after my time on the planet that I have no control over what people feel about me or need from me, so I just have a more laid-back approach in my apologies.

Music is my only guide. I don’t care if people pigeonhole me. Miles Davis is my hero. He covered Cindy Lauper and Michael Jackson, and he didn’t give a hoot about what the purists said.

I’m pushing ahead on my own – you no longer need a large record company to make you a star.

I just try to tell a story with a song, and be able to try to transmit the emotion to you. That’s all I’m really trying to do.

I find myself wanting to make music at the dining room table or in the bedroom – I’m kind of a mobile writer, so I sort of move around the house. But the attic is definitely where I can make the most noise. While everyone on the lower floors screams ‘Earthquake!’ But no! It’s just my bass!

Music is like a lover that I can’t commit to, but I seem to always find myself in bed with.

My greatest influence is Jimi Hendrix, and if he’s been reincarnated, or if he’s looking down, sideways, or looking up, I just wanted to tell him that I love him and thank him for opening doors for me. I just wanted to make it beautiful for him.