I was tired and I had overworked myself and burnt myself out. So I went to Egypt by myself. When I saw what was built there, it made me understand how powerful we are, that we can create anything. And I felt like I needed to create things that were timeless too.
We’re all going to change. Otherwise, it’s boring.
I’ve always been strong-minded, but I wonder.
I lived with my mom in a really small apartment. My bedroom was like in the living room. That’s why I still love to sleep on couches now.
I see what happens when one gets very attached to material things. That’s just not what my life is.
I love the written word so much, I know it’s gonna flow naturally.
When you’re talented, you’re talented.
When I was younger, studying classical music, I really had to put in the time. Three hours a day is not even nice – you have to put in six.
If I want to be alone, some place I can write, I can read, I can pray, I can cry, I can do whatever I want – I go to the bathroom.
And I love kick boxing. It’s a lot of fun. It gives you a lot of confidence when you can kick somebody in the head.
I feel like B sides are always better, no matter whose record it is.
I have this vintage Harley-Davidson motorcycle jacket. When I put it on, it has this supercool feeling to it.
I grew up in a pretty tough neighborhood.
I believe Aids is the most important issue we face, because how we treat the poor is a reflection of who we are as a people.
For me, doing a show, the excitement of singing live, and the possibility that you’re not gonna be perfect – that’s the thrill of it.
Failure isn’t an option. I’ve erased the word ‘fear’ from my vocabulary, and I think when you erase fear, you can’t fail.
As a lyricist, you love to hear other great lyrics or other great concepts.
The last thing I want is to walk into my house after a long day and see all the Grammys and awards. It would make me feel weird.
I would hate to make music and people love me for something that isn’t me.
Mozart would play a counterpart with his left hand while using his right to mock it. It was blue, dark, shadowy – and it made me feel something. That’s when I realized music was inside me.