People relate to you a lot more when you're honest and authentic - and that's hard to do in front of millions of people every week.

If I can help encourage or inspire someone out there who is struggling with some of the same or similar issues as myself, then I think it's worth talking about.

In regards to my artistry, I've learned the importance of being vulnerable.

Even in the sad songs, I want people to know that it won't always be like that.

My advice to anyone wanting to get into the music business, is always be ready to learn and remain humble.

As long as children are still getting kicked out of their homes by parents, getting bullied, commuting suicide, et cetera. it's definitely still worth talking about.

I think my entire songwriting catalog reflects where I was in my life at the time. I capture whatever moment I am experiencing in life.

My songs always tend to have a good element to the story. That is who I am - an optimistic person.

I think my songwriting has developed over the years. As I get older, I have become less afraid to share real experiences.

I always love to support my friends and how they choose to express themselves creatively.

I am extremely grateful for my 'American Idol' experience, and I enjoyed every bit of it.

He who trusts the world, the world betrays him.

In my teens, I developed a passionate idolatry for a teacher of English literature. I wanted to do something that he would approve of more, so I thought I should be some sort of a scholar.

Poetry always, always, always is a key piece of democracy.

When the heavens are with you, when the earth is with you, when the sea is with you, when the wind is with you. Who's going to defeat you after that? Nobody.

I can run up a wall and do a back flip - that's the most impressive thing that I can do.

I think, there are people for whom freedom is a bigger, more important thing than stability.

Richard Nixon looks like a flaming liberal today, compared to a golem like George Bush. Indeed. Where is Richard Nixon now that we finally need him?

The ability to play the clarinet is the ability to overcome the imperfections of the instrument. There's no such thing as a perfect clarinet, never was and never will be.

I didn't want people to accuse me of being really depressive. I really tried to fight against that and not have a complete downer about the subject.

If I were reincarnated, I'd want to come back a buzzard. Nothing hates him or envies him or wants him or needs him. He is never bothered or in danger, and he can eat anything.