“A lot of the time, in pop music especially, there’s reverb. And the reason is that reverb makes vocals sound better 99% of the time. It makes the notes ring out.”

I really value just being able to go out and grab a coffee or going to a movie and not have anyone recognize me.

You know, that’s kind of always been our philosophy: not letting the place that we are get in the way of making great music.

Kids have tools to do what I’m doing.

I have always loved Ben Folds, he’s like an idol of mine, a hero of mine.

When I started, I felt that there was this incredible amount of doubt of my ability as a producer.

I think it’s really easy to be the altruistic hero of your own narrative and story.

We were a very crunchy, sort of hippie-dippy family.

I don’t really have any interest in recording at places that are institutionalized for recording.

All my favorite songs ever are love songs. Probably topped by ‘The Luckiest’ by Ben Folds.

I stopped telling people what lyrics meant to them when I saw them tattoo it on them, because it clearly meant much more to them than it ever did to me.

Imagine if somebody was like, ‘Who’s the next Timothee Chalamet?’ It’s like, he’s currently Timothee Chalamet.

It’s important to recognize when a song remains important to you.

I was on a TV show called ‘Glee.’ I mean, I was on the real tail end of that show; it was already way past its peak. But still, for me aged 17 landing something like that was a big deal.

I’m not a control freak in that like I boss everybody around, but like a control freak and like, I like knowing exactly what I get to do that day and having a say.

I don’t analyze songs because I think it will make me a better songwriter, I just do it out of sheer curiosity.

I’ve learned a lot from my mom and my dad. I learn a lot every time I watch Billie perform.

You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better.

Sin doesn’t make us bad, sin makes us dead. The gospel doesn’t make us better, the gospel makes us alive.

If you play an instrument, it makes you a better singer. The more you play, the better you sing, the more you sing, the better you play.

People saying that you been robbed is almost better than winning a Grammy.

Mediocrity will never do. You are capable of something better.

We’ve got to have a little humor in our lives. You had better take seriously that which should be taken seriously but, at the same time, we can bring in a touch of humor now and again. If the time ever comes when we can’t smile at ourselves, it will be a sad time.

I’m not one to sit around and be satisfied about something. I can always get better.

Difficulties are opportunities to better things; they are stepping-stones to greater experience…When one door closes, another always opens; as a natural law it has to, to balance.