Musician

If Hillary Clinton had been president, we'd have had a false sense of security. Trump has brought everything to the light - racism, homophobia. It's one of our darkest points, because we should know better.

'Girls Go Wild' was born out of a Joshua Tree excursion with some close friends after coming home from a long bit of touring.

I do have a little setup at home. I use Pro Tools and a Neumann mic. Neumann's are my favorite.

'Pop' is not a bad word. What's more interesting than changing the chemistry in a room in three minutes with a song?

I feel like emotional content is the most important of any song, for any artist.

I only want to write a song with the people who want to write a song with me.

It's interesting when you write something for somebody else, and then you're like, 'Oh man, I just laid my whole trip on them, and they don't even know!'

No matter what, if you write a song that's great that everyone expects to be a hit, then everyone's going to be expecting another one from you. If you write a song that no one notices, you're going to want to write one that someone will.

I don't think a good singer or a great singer is either of those things without a great song.

With Joe Walsh, that was kind of random. I'd written 'Hi-Roller Baby' for myself while I was at Island/Def Jam; literally, four years later, it got cut. Songs can be around for a long time.

I think one of the people that's done the most for the gay movement is Ellen DeGeneres.

I appreciate good work no matter where it's coming from.

When I see someone great live, what I think is, 'I can't wait to hear the record.'

I think Pride, it means ultimately, finally, being able to live with freedom in some ways. Or, at least, that's what we're striving for.

When the major labels didn't work out the first time around, it taught me not to force things. You gotta let it flow.

I studied Paul Simon's 'Slip Slidin' Away' and 'Still Crazy After All These Years.' I wanted to explore adult themes, portraying the hurt that's in even a good relationship.

I know all too well what it takes to have a hit: A little bit of luck, a little bit of work, a little bit of talent.

The first time I wrote a song, I couldn't really believe - 'Can you just do that? You're just allowed?' I never thought about songs on the radio and who wrote them.

I've written for Rita Ora; I've written for Chiddy Bang - there's been a few.

If you like it live, you know that you're probably going to like the record, usually.