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If a composer is to reach his audience emotionally - and surely that's what theatre music is all about - he must reach the people through sounds they can relate to.

When you put the musical in front of an audience, you get to see how the audience reacts.

As I get older, I'm slowing down and, yes, calming down in my desire to be taken seriously. That I can be entertaining and funny and high nervous energy can work against me as a serious composer, slowly but surely you'll see me be quieter just so that people will listen.

As a composer, I'm basically trying to represent myself through my music in an honest way.

I just have to take my chances like any other composer.

Which is why, in my lieder concerts, I always strove, when possible, to sing only the works of a single composer, so that the audience could be gradually drawn into a particular creative genius' way of thinking, and could follow him.

Composers, like authors, have a lot in common. Our main goal is to connect with the listener emotionally.

I don't compose, actually. I just record. I'm the opposite of a composer in my way of working. I'm more instinctive.

It's nice not to have the majority of the attention on me like there is when playing a concerto with an orchestra.

I don't really call myself a composer.