My first two records were more energetic; Phantom Moon is subtle, quiet; so these various reactions are just something I expected.

If I were to do this over I'd play a lot more shows before I made a record.

Simon Hale, the British arranger, does all string and wood arrangements on my records.

I also wanted to make a record that was about other things than romance, yeah, after two years on the road singing all the songs from the first album, I got kind of tired of that.

I'd have these weird experiences where I'd just be walking down the street with this chord progression in my head, this happened more than a few times, and I'd walk home and find a fax in my machine and it would match the music in my head.

I actually am always a music first person.