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.

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.

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.

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.

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