I went from living in my dad's basement to moving to New York. So I never had that middle ground of easing into adulthood.

I hate saying I'm a new musician, because I've been doing this forever, but they like to put new musicians on a lot of weird bills.

I love country, folk, and strong female voices, like Alison Krauss, Dolly Parton, PJ Harvey, and Kate Bush.

The influence is really all over the place. Detroit, definitely because of Motown and Stooges. When you come from a place like Detroit, you're really proud of what you have there.

We are temporarily immortal, until we have fulfilled God's plans for our lives...then we become temporarily mortal, waiting to become permanently immortal at last

It's not what you will get out of the books that is so enriching — it is what the books will get out of you that will ultimately change your life.

I think religion should be treated with ridicule, hatred and contempt, and I claim that right.

You ought to try surviving one of my family reunions. It's like having a bowling alley in your brain.

As you get older, time speeds up but life slows down.

I like American history, so I was aware of the participants and a lot of it.

I started writing when I was about 20, 21 maybe.

I grew up in a village of 12 houses. We had a well and a cow.

The piano by its black and white keys always attracted me, my father showed me how to use... and slowly I got into playing.

Every day is a good day, and if you don't believe me, just try missing one of them.