Racism has been for everyone like a horrible tragic car crash and we've all been heavily sedated from it. If we don't come into consciousness of this tragedy there's going to be a violent awakening we don't want. The question is can we wake up?

Interventions are really emotionally exhausting and I would never ever want to have one. In the same way I would never want to have a surprise birthday party. That would be horrible.

Perhaps it's good for one to suffer. Can an artist do anything if he's happy? Would he ever want to do anything? What is art after all but a protest against the horrible inclemency of life?

I guess because I had such a horrible life growing up going from place to place not knowing what I was gonna do and ending up being homeless there was a lot of pain and a lot of anger that was coming out through my guitar playing.

When I was younger I was terrified to express anger because it would often kick-start a horrible reaction in the men in my life. So I bit my tongue. I was left to painstakingly deal with the aftermath of my avoidance later in life in therapy or through the lyrics of my songs.

I really believe that all of us have a lot of darkness in our souls. Anger rage fear sadness. I don't think that's only reserved for people who have horrible upbringings. I think it really exists and is part of the human condition. I think in the course of your life you figure out ways to deal with that.

My mom can't defend herself to the world. She is such an amazing woman with such an open heart. It's a real hard line and I crossed it. I took everyone's life story and assumed it would be a great thing to put on screen. I was being selfish and I feel so horrible about it. I feel so guilty.