What’s your favorite charity or cause you work for, and why?

I try to stay away from causes that have any kind of a political agenda. When I discovered Amnesty International I felt that they had hit on something very basic. There really is too much cruelty in the world. If by writing a simple letter I can help alleviate any degree of it than I am more than happy to do my part.

What’s your favorite non-music activity?

Peg me as a geek... I love my books! If you stop by my personal page you'll find pics of me surrounded by these friends of mine. Like my dog, I couldn't imagine a world without them.

What in your life outside of your music drives you in a creative sense?

If I had to give a simple answer to this one I'd have to say my curiousity. I've never been very interested in the routine daily business of life. So, I"ve had to look elsewhere for stimulation. Luckily music, books and art have always been there to help me cope with my incessant need to fidget.

How would you describe what inspires you to do what you do?

I don't think musicians or artists of any kind can ever consciously define what it is that inspires them to do what they do. I've always loved music, have always known I could do music and never had to go through the process-what must be an extremely difficult one- the of figuring out what in this world inspired me. The inspiration has come easy. Finding a way to do it in this world and still eat... that's the hard part.

Going back in your life as far as you can remember, what song or performance is the first you recall hearing and being affected by?

The earliest memory I have of being profoundly struck by something I heard occurred when I was very young. I was in elementary school, I couldn't have been in more than grade 2 or 3, and I heard this music coming from a classroom. I remember being alone in the hallway so it must have been between classes or something. Anyway, a rendition of "Amazing Grace"- I didn't know the title at the time- played by bagpipes no less, was coming from the room. The one thing I'll always remember from this experience is that it was the first time that I got goosebumps and felt completely overwhelmed by what I was hearing.

How would you finish this sentence? “I don’t like to go a day without_________?

Being engaged in something that really fulfills me personally. Whether it's composing or listening to music, or enjoying a great idea or someone else's art work I need to feel like I'm not just filling time. Life's just too short.