A lot of the things I was doing on the first couple Washed Out releases was very naive.
Escapism or nostalgia, for me, is not about having a terrible life and trying to get away via imaginary ideas or something.
For the longest time, I was trying to be DJ Shadow, I think. But I slowly developed my own style. It was trial and error, for sure.
For the most part, the real work is done in the songwriting stage and recording; the next step is presenting to people.
Honestly, I've just made music so long by myself, in some ways I don't feel I'm a very good collaborator.
I come from a background of hiding everything behind a computer.
I didn't realise how much I ate Mexican food, like tacos and burritos three times a week, until I came to Europe and couldn't find any.
I do have the personnel that we use in the back of my head when I'm working, but I also don't want to limit myself.
I don't really write all that well with others.
I don't think I would change anything. I think we've done a fairly good job of remaining sane and making the right decisions.
I don't think it's an exciting thing to move back in with your parents.
I get very bored easily. I'm a child of the Internet or whatever; I want more and more of new and interesting things.
I just have the normal ringtone, unfortunately.
I just make up lyrics off the top of my head. A lot of times, there's a phrase I really like, and I kind of build the song around that.
I like an even-keeled, slow-paced job.
I try to stay on a pretty normal schedule of nine-to-five.
I was definitely the kid in the back of the class with his head down the whole time not wanting to speak up and say anything.
Obviously, I never want to make the same record twice. I want to keep moving forward. That's the real challenge, I think.
I love listening to pop radio.
It's a weird dynamic - I guess there is a fine line between hope and sadness. Sometimes you can be feeling both at the same time.
I'm very happy in my life, but I do feel that music has a power to transport you to places or to beautiful moments in your past.
I naturally like that dreamy, shoegazey sound on my vocals. A lot of reverb helps, and so do a lot of delay effects on everything.
My general taste is towards the melancholy.
