You could have written the biggest hit song, and all eyes are looking to you to write another one. It's not a thankless job; it's just an endless job.

I'm not looking to be a gay poster child. If you're gay, and I inspire you, I don't want to put that down. But I'm not looking to be your gay savior.

I feel like how I live my life is my own political statement.

I was having a nice anonymous little time as a writer. I really was on the writer path. I was sort of minding my own business. I loved making a living in music.

My thing with New York was that it felt so insular. When I went to L.A., everybody I knew was a cool, amazing musician. In New York, they'd be hunkered down trying to form a band. But in L.A., guys in bands were also playing with other artists, touring with other artists, and collaborating with other artists.