I went to national piano competitions and did that whole circuit. Then I played professionally to support myself when I moved out to LA.
I don't think I've ever laid out a batch of songs that pick myself apart the way that these do.
I know I come off differently than I think of myself. I'm always surprised by what people say about me.
I consider myself a blue-collar actor, just chugging away.
I think a challenge for myself is to see how many times I can get above 9,000. That would be a good challenge.
I consider myself a religious person, but when it comes to God and faith, I don't know. I guess that means I'm agnostic.
I've never worried about 'the reader' because there isn't one. There are thousands, and they all have strong opinions, from 'Magician' was the best ever,' and I've gone downhill since to 'The new book is the best ever,' so to whom to I listen? So I write for myself and hope other people like it.
Mostly the problems when I was down were caused by myself. There were times when I was not responsible enough or decisive enough.
I think the rejection - if it's taken in the right spirit, it can make you a better person. And I think that is what I've always striven for. If one thing didn't work out, a project or anything, it doesn't mean that I lose my own confidence. In fact, I give myself a lot more confidence and opportunities.
It's boring to have the same guy win. I'm actively rooting against myself.
I never met Colleen McCullough; if I had, I probably would have cried and made a fool of myself.
My first album was me finding myself and my voice, finding how I sing. I was rolling with the punches because everything was new to me.
I had to learn - since I'm divorced now and everyone is like, 'Oh my God, you're single, what's going on?' - that if I don't like to spend time with myself, how can I ask someone else to enjoy spending time with me? I'm getting to learn how to enjoy my solitude and have a good time.
Speaking only for myself, the ideal finale to me is 'Friday Night Lights,' where you have loved and worshipped a show for all these years, you get to come back, celebrate the characters, finish up their journeys, and send everyone out with a feeling of, 'My God, I'm so grateful that I got to know these people.'
Modern people are only willing to believe in their computers, while I believe in myself.
I love being by myself.
I don't see myself as offending people.
I have felt in my very blood, ever since I was born, a most unconquerable hatred towards the whole tribe of fools, and it arises from the fact that I feel myself a blockhead whenever I am in their company.
I can't just decide myself what's being built. Someone decides what they want, then I work for them.
I find DIY really therapeutic. I lose myself in it, because you can concentrate on the task and not think about all the other stuff going on in your life.
I don't look at myself as a historical icon, but the reality of it is, yeah, I am playing for history now.
I don't know if this is the kind of retrospective analysis that people are fond of applying to their work or actions, but it feels like I knew I was going to be famous and I knew that an element of that would be traumatic, so that if I could make myself something big and otherworldly, it would be a kind of defence.
I still give myself the right to be highly critical of others, though.
To talk about planning an economic system is to talk in old terms, and I find myself sometimes having to teach Westers about what the market really means.
I'm uncomfortable publicizing myself as a model. I can only say over and over again, 'That's what I do,' and let people make fun of me.
I studied piano for many years, and I still play. I'm a complete amateur, and I wouldn't consider myself very good at all, but I enjoy it.
I think the greatest amount of pressure is the pressure I place on myself. So in a way I chose to be alone.
I don't know if I have a brand. I just see myself as an athlete and a competitor, someone who just works really hard at trying to get better at golf. I guess I'm kind of the feel-good story who's seen every level of professional golf.
I have had a very singular kind of life since I started working so young, so I am very used to traveling, working, taking time for myself.
The intention that naturally exists: 'My intention is to get done with this commute.' So I've just doomed myself to an hour of discomfort, because my intention will not be met until I get out of the car.
When I was on that boat, I realized the only way I would feel creatively challenged was if I totally changed everything about my environment and put myself in a storm, in a sense.
I don't put boundaries on myself when I sit at the piano.
I have been very clear to everybody that just because I'm getting married does not mean I call myself a straight.
I noticed this process of waking, and predicted with terrifying logic that one of these years not far away I would be awake continuously and never slip back, and never be free of myself again.
I write most of my songs to beats. I play around on guitar, but not enough to where I can compose my own stuff or play solos. I can accompany myself 'cause most songs are, like, four chords.
Well, I don't really concern myself too much with what other people make of my work.
