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UD: What is your song writing process?
Every song is different. Some songs, like let's say "Hello", I wrote the lyrics in the margins of a magazine after reading a story about the 'Masters of Deception', "MOD." They were the first hackers, about ten years ago, that came into the spotlight. They were kids who were able to break into government files, all from a PC out of the ghetto. It was an extraordinary story. I had all the lyrics first, so to create the music, I paid attention to the fact that there were references to cyberspace, therefore it had to be a machine driven beat, you know? It had to be a colder atmosphere than an acoustic guitar which is much warmer and intimate. The only discipline I have is I write every day. It's more like keeping a muscle in order. It forces me to keep in touch with myself, especially on the road. I will write every single day, about a fight I had with my brother, anything. It could happen the opposite way, I can get a melody or beat in my head and that can change the whole journey.
UD: Any Hobbies?
I love to go to the movies by myself in LA.
UD: One of my favorite things to do is to go to the Beverly Center, without any friends, girlfriends, or nothing and buy a warm Cin-a-Bun or two, which have about fifty grams of fat each, sneak them into the movie theater, and experience bliss.
Oh my god!! You are kidding? Cin-a-Buns. I sometimes plan my whole day around getting to the Beverly Center Mall to get a Cin-a-Bun. I love going to the movies by myself there too, what a coincidence, how cool.
UD: I think we've bonded.
Definitely. That's so weird.
UD: Why do you thank Mercedes Ruehl in your album?
Well it's funny. My dad was her acting teacher, I knew her since I was a little kid. She was such an inspiration for me. Here was a woman who was doing crappy Summer stock 'til she was forty practically, you know? And then winning a Tony and an Oscar the same year when everyone was like "you're over babe, get over it, you didn't make it as an actress". I have so much respect for her as a lover of her craft, as an artist it was just about her love of the theater which is why she did it, it wasn't about all the bullshit. And it was great to see someone like that rewarded. She was very instrumental about two-and a half years ago when my father died, she flew to LA to help my brother and I take care of him. She is a great performer, I am so scared to have her see me in concert.
UD: You recently toured with Lenny Kravitz. Tell me about your experience of going on the road with him.
Well it was great. I didn't get to speak with him all that much because he had this whole entourage thing going on. Our bands would always have dinner together before every show though, so we got to speak regularly then. I learned a lot from watching him.