I've made a living out of music since I was 19, which is something I'm really happy about.

I like patterns in words. I'm not really interested in meaning.

Pretty much every artist in Scotland - musician, writer, poet, actor - they're all part of a thing called the National Collective.

I never trust songwriters who talk about what their song is about.

I've made solo records and that's all been a learning experience. I've just got better at singing and more comfortable with who I am and my voice.

I'm quite happy for my voice to be pushed up, whereas in the past I wanted it buried with the guitars, or part of the band, not like I was thinking of myself as 'the singer'.

I suppose if a band is like a gang, it is a moment in time.

If you want meaning, you read poetry or a novel or something, you don't read song lyrics. You're supposed to listen to them with music.

Giving back feeds the heart

I've got no problem with anybody's religion. But if you go claiming the Earth is only 10,000 years old, that's just wrong.

New York is so diverse. When you're on the street or in the subway, you're experiencing more of the diversity of New York.

Remember that work is not a place for self-fulfillment. If it were, you would know it.

Don't judge me because I'm quiet. No one plans a murder out loud.

My message is to never quit, never give up. When you have a little trouble here and there, just keep fighting. In the end, it will pay off.

American fiction is good. It would be nice if somebody read it.

Associate reverently, and as much as you can, with your loftiest thoughts.

To make your people understand what righteousness is, this must be the basis of all your teaching.

Well, I'm kinda like George Carlin. I think that there ought to be a time where everybody should have all the drugs they want and there'd be nobody in charge, sort of like... now!