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I write the vocals last, because I wanted to invent the music first and push the music to the level that I had to compete against it.

I just wanted to be a songwriter. I did really not like the sound of my own voice.

I'd faced a lot of rejection from labels and the industry, and it was getting hard to keep believing in myself. But something wouldn't let me - inside - I had this voice that was relentlessly hopeful, and honestly, I just loved performing and writing too much to ever really quit.

Once I wrote 'Atmosphere,' I thought, 'This is my story; it's me and my life and what I've gone through to get to where I am.' I'm not the best singer, but still. All of my albums are personal, but putting myself out there and singing is one more thing that makes me vulnerable - one more thing that people can fire shots at.

My second record I used a producer, which was frustrating in a way, because I think a lot of the punky spirit and provocative nature of the lyrics didn't come across - the music was pretty.

I realized that there was much more to my voice than I'd ever been led to explore and that I could make my own songs.

I stand firm behind the belief that, for me, songwriting isn't something that I do or command, it happens to me. I can either choose to stop and acknowledge it, or put it off and hope that it won't fade away. 'That Wasn't Me' is no exception - it came together more quickly than any other song I have ever constructed on my own.

At some point in my life, before I was gone, I wanted to make an album, even if it was for no reason other than posterity.

In the past, my voice was my enemy.

Songwriting's never been a natural art for me; it's always been a bit of a struggle.