What do great artists do when you see a world around you that's in turmoil? Some of the best artists make you feel good (hah), they look to the future.

Everything about my life was culturally rich, and all the people I met sort of reinforced the wackiness that was normally inside of me. No one said, 'You can't do that,' until I got to real record companies, that is.

In today's world, I probably would like to work with someone like Gaga.

I would play hooky from school and spend all day in the movie theaters. Consequently, I learned satire in all its subtle forms.

If something is worth doing, it's worth overdoing.

I've been able to be a part of every movement in music over the last several decades. The only one that I haven't been involved in so much is hip-hop, which I chose not to be involved in because it felt like I would be what they called perpetrating. It felt like hip-hop was so much of its own culture and that I was not part of that culture.

Almost all the producers I know and dig, like Quincy Jones or Brian Eno, are really musicians first. I'm a composer, an orchestrator, an arranger and a musician first. I know how to write and rewrite songs, and the genius is really in the rewriting.

Artists don't come much cooler and well rounded than Lady Gaga. Love and respect.

After waiting four long years since the Lost CHIC Tapes were recovered, I'm finally putting out our first record. I'm like a child waiting for Christmas morning.

You can't be afraid until you have no other option but to be afraid.

If I could live in one city and do every single thing I do there, I would choose Venice. You can't turn your head without seeing something amazing.

With Sumthin Else Music Works, I wanted to spread the love and give newcomers a chance to make it because something that really helped me were all the people who had given me an opportunity when I was putting my career together.

Art is something that opens up and enhances your emotions and that's what I like to think I'm doing.

I've had insomnia since I was five years old. I just don't require much sleep. I'm never tired.

I think the hardest thing to overcome is judging yourself and being your own worst critic so to speak.

My concept is, until you absolutely know the plane is crashing, there's no reason to be afraid. All the turbulence in the world does not mean the plane is crashing. Once it's confirmed, then you can be afraid.