在臺灣，人們稱你為『搖滾詩人』請問你對這個稱號有什麼看法嗎？
從我出道開始，我已經被冠上很多不同的稱呼了，但是這個倒是新的一個，我很喜歡，我想我很樂意被這樣稱呼。
你的每一首歌都有一個故事在背後，請問你的故事是怎麼收集來的？又怎麼決定哪種故事你會想用在你的歌曲裡？
多數的歌曲都是出自我的人生經歷，我並不會為了作歌而去虛構故事，當然，有時候因為隱私，我會做一些修改，但是每首歌基本上都是出自真實的故事。每個故事也都是透過我的眼睛及我的耳朵收集來的，這些故事如果成為歌曲，都是因為他們值得透過歌曲傳唱，也有那一份價值。
什麼事情是你在最新一張專輯 『陽光歌頌』裡頭想要傳達的呢？
這一張專輯是關於“整理好過去重新出發”的歌；前一張專輯 『磁帶驅動的心』則是關於崩壞離析的生活，其實就是關於我曾經崩壞離析生活中的一段時間的故事。而這一張則是關於在那段時間後存活下來的故事，關於你如何在廢墟中走出且撣除身上灰塵的故事。有點像是 「儘管你在人生的低潮時，仍然可以保持樂觀。」的專輯。
可以請你從這張專輯選出三首歌嗎？三首你覺得可以代表給正在低潮的人的歌。
『Get Better』這首歌我會說算是這張專輯的主要概念，不管是在歌詞上、弦律上都是 「我會努力讓自己更好，因為我知道我還沒做到最好。」『Glorious You』是一首我寫給我姪女的歌，因為她曾經有過非常艱困的一年，我因為想幫助她所以我寫出了這首歌。最後，『Love 40 Down』這一首歌是在演唱會清單中歌曲，其中的故事是描述一位在網球場上失利的人，但是他在放棄之前決定讓自己奮力一搏。
你會如何描述你的生活風格呢？
我是個活在路途中的人；當我十六歲的時候，我舉辦了我的第一場巡迴演唱會，從那之後我就不間段的表演了十三年。我從不活在框架裡，我活出我自己的風格；身為一個以演出為職業的人，我熱愛演奏音樂、熱愛旅行，這樣的生活並不適合全部的人；事實上這樣的生活非常困難，但是我非常幸運的可以用這樣的生活風格生活下去。
你曾經有在人生中迷失嗎？
我曾經在我年輕的時候迷失過，因為我曾經有過酗酒的問題，不過音樂的陪伴，我結束了那一切，而且讓我回到了正軌上。
什麼是你理想中的世界呢？
我不太確定在 “理想的世界” 裡面有什麼，但是我對我現在的生活非常的滿意，雖然這聽起來有點自私，不過我不想嘗試想像一個理想世界給別人，這個行為對我來說太傲慢了。
你覺得在我們的社會中，音樂是最而有力的武器嗎？
我認為音樂非常具有力量，但是我不會形容音樂是一種武器，因為音樂是一種對生命的評論，是一種生命的溝通，也是一種靈魂的安慰劑。
你同意“Modern Life is Rubbish” 嗎？
我不完全同意；對我來說，我寧願活在現在而非過去。人們對過去有太多過度浪漫的情懷了，他們似乎都忘了我們的生活有著許多問題，例如：初生嬰兒的死亡率，疾病以及飢荒...等議題。我們的世界的確不完美，但是我們也不會讓這個世界更糟下去。
In Taiwan people are describing you as the ‘Bard of Rock Music’ do you agree with it?
I have been called many things in my career. That one is new to me but it's kind of poetic, I like it, I'll take it.
Every song you have produced has included a story, how did you collect and decide what type of stories you desired to use for your songs?
Most of the songs I have written are autobiographical, I've not done much straight fiction. Of course some details or whatever will be changed, both for the sake of the song and for the sake of privacy; but generally they're true stories. I guess I keep my eyes and ears open for things that are worth discussing in song, worth singing every night.
What’s the message you wish to send from your latest album ‘Positive Songs for Negative People’?
It's a record about trying to put things back together. The preceding album, "Tape Deck Heart", was about a break-up, it was about a time in my life when things were falling apart. This record is about surviving that time, about crawling out of the wreckage and dusting yourself down. It's kind of optimistic, amidst the ruins.
Can you pick three songs from this album, which you believe represent songs for negative people?
The song "Get Better" kind of sets the scene for the album, both musically and lyrically - "I'm trying to get better because I haven't been my best". "Glorious You" is a song I wrote for my cousin, she had a tough year and I wanted to talk about helping her out. And then "Love 40 Down" is a set-piece song, it's a portrait of someone who is about to lose a game of tennis very badly, but decides to give it one more push before giving up.
How do you define your lifestyle?
I live on the road. I did my first tour when I was 16, and I've been touring full-time for 13 years now. I live out of a suitcase, I work as an entertainer, I play music and travel, and I love it. It's not for everyone, and it's pretty hard physically, but I feel very fortunate to live the life I do.
Have you ever lost your path in life?
I have had rougher times in my life, I've had issues with drinking and so on when I was younger, but music has always been there for me in the end, to keep me on the path.
What’s your ideal world?
I'm not sure I believe in an ideal world really. I'm pretty happy with the way I've set my life up; that sounds selfish, but then I wouldn't want to be so hubristic as to try and organise the world for anyone else.
Do you believe music is the most powerful weapon in our society?
I think music is powerful, I'm not sure I'd rush to describe it as a weapon. Music is commentary, is communication, is balm for the soul.
Do you agree with ‘Modern Life is Rubbish’?
Not particularly. I'd rather live now than almost any other time in history. People romanticise the past way too much; they forget about infant mortality, disease, famine and so on. The world isn't perfect now, of course, but we're not doing too badly.
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