I'm a professional Jonathan Coulton. It's partially ego, to be completely honest: It feels great to have people adoring you in that way.

I'm just a dude and I feel like being completely isolated would be kind of a drag. I really do get a lot of energy from feedback from fans. People create music videos and artwork for my music.

It's weird but it's amazing, and it's great to know people are thinking about you. It's a huge ego boost and anyone that says they don't love that is lying.

For me, the live show is sort of the ultimate expression of this journey that I've been on.

I'd always meant to become a musician. I'd just never gotten around to it. And my daughter being born, I was like, Okay, this is seriously the last chance. And also: Do you really want to be a dad who never did what he wanted to do? You've got to set an example now. You've got to do this.

I always feel uncomfortable at parties, and I'm often nervous when talking to strangers. I don't think this makes me feel special. Maybe everybody feels this way.