There is a lot of work just in terms of traveling and logistics and people and gear and all that kind of stuff. But I never really have problems playing music. That never seems like work.
I suppose listening to a double album is kind of like going to the chiropractor... It's pretty good for you but you can't force it on anyone else.
The music industry is not what it used to be. Being in a good band is great, and I've been lucky to be in great bands. I've done solo stuff, and that's been great. I also produce rock bands and I do co-writes, where I write with different singers in bands and songwriters.
I think if you're able to make the music you want and you can do it in the right kind of context, you don't have to be a circus ringleader to be successful.
Even from a listening end now, I'm still completely a fan of music.
I like the challenges of doing different things. It keeps things fresh for me.
I'm happy doing different things. Being in a band is great, but being in a band can be difficult sometimes.
All of the music works on its own, but it doesn't really make as much sense without the picture.
So there was something of a learning curve with doing your own thing and people seeing you outside of the band. I mean, people have never really heard my voice before - or heard a whole record of mine before. So it was a completely new experience.
We have a partnership deal with New Line Records, which is part of New Line Cinema, and... I worked on that.
Well, I always hope that I'm a role model.
Well, I'm pretty domestic actually. I walk my dog. I go grocery shopping. I hang out with friends. I'm pretty normal, whatever normal is, on my off time.
Composing is just another exciting thing. It's as exciting as being in a band. It's kind of like joining a new band for three months.
No, I've heard over the years that it's nice for them to see somebody who's like, you know, a well-known successful musician who's Asian. I've heard it from a few musicians, too.
Musicians always come off sounding a little bit pretentious, and a little bit... I don't know, hypocritical, from what they do, talking about strong issues.
But, yeah, as far as Asian Americans go, I hope they know they can look at me and see that they can do music on their own, within a band or just on their own, and not feel like there's any barriers. I've never felt any particular barriers myself, being who I am.
And they kind of left to find a guitar player at the very end, so you know, I don't really take it as any slight that I wasn't able to play on the record. It's flattering just to play with them period.
I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago.
I live most of the time in New York now. I have an apartment there.
I mean I like pop music, and I like heavy music and, stuff that I like... the band I've signed on to our label right now; they're called The Sounds. They're kind of like a new-wave pop band.
If you put all the songs together that I've written on band records, and put it up next to my solo record, there's definitely a different kind of feel than Billy's songs.
It's hard enough to make a good song and a good recording of that song. But to try to tailor it to some outside force is just like - It's never been a factor in what I've done or what the band's done.
Yeah, I'm sure there are stereotypes of Asian people.
I'd like to keep doing film and TV, and I definitely can appreciate a good theme song. If it's memorable, that's a great thing.
It's great working with directors and with somebody else's vision.
