I don't write songs about a specific, elusive thing. I write about love, and everyone knows what it is like to have your heart broken.

A song is like a dream, and you have to make it come true. They're like strange countries that you have to enter. You can write a song anywhere, in a railroad compartment, on a boat, on horseback -- it helps to be moving. Sometimes people who have the greatest talent for writing songs never write any because they are not moving.

I think people appreciate a songwriter who shows different sides. The whole angst thing is cool, but if that's all you've got, it's just boring. Everything I write, whether it's happy or sad, has a sense of humor to it.

Writing for other artists helped me figure out that magic you have to capture to make everyone connect with a song.

In my songs, I'm not saying something that's never been said before. The have lyrics aren't going to blow people away. It's the emotion and the melody that drive it home.

As far as songwriting, my inspirations came from love, life and death, and viewing other people's situations.