So are your fans liking the new material so far?

I hope so. (Laughs) I haven’t really talked to that many about it. But there’s been some nice reactions on the website and blog. No major complaints yet.

What are you hoping your CD does for the music industry?

(Laughs) I hope it brings it down! (Laughs) Well, you know... the main thing that I’m hoping is that people who buy the record and who are interested in getting their hands dirty and really de-constructing the songs and creating new material from those constrituous parts... I hope that people come up with some really cool stuff and that the record could kind of evolve that way. It can be constantly changing over time. That’s the main thing for me. I’m just hoping to get some cool versions of the songs really.

Are you getting a lot of radio play so far for the new record?

For White Limousine, yes. For some reason it’s been easier to get on the air this time than it has in the past few records. (Laughs)

Was "Half-Life" ever released as a single?

It was very half-assed. It was in the movie, What A Girl Wants... they had an opportunity to do more with it, but it didn’t happen. No use crying over spilled milk.

What songs stick out for you on the new CD?

Well, you know... this is not a good thing... or a bad thing... but, the song that’s the biggest anomaly on the record for me is "Shopping" - you know that magazine called Ad Busters? Anyways, it’s my anti-consumers rant. If people do react to it then I’m really happy about it.

What’s new about your new CD? Did you do any new techniques?

Well, my whole process was basically - I had a criteria that I would look at during the creative process of writing and recording material. If the songs were evoking those qualities that I had on my list then that was the test of wether it was going to be on the record or not. One of the main things was that I tried to be strict with myself - the artists who influenced me were people like Mark Hollis from Talk Talk and Dead Can Dance... it’s all stuff that was very non-commercial. But that’s music that moves me and I wanted to kind of respect that. And not be afraid to do something just because it might alienate people who like straight ahead music.

What are the contents on the DVD-Rom?

It’s basically every song with all of the individual instruments - soloed out so you’ll have a mono bass track, a stereo vocal track, guitar one, guitar two, keyboards, strings... and you can kind of mute any of them or solo any of them - and chop them up and re-organize them. You can run them through crazy effects... whatever it is you can think of.

Do you know if this has ever been done before?

It hasn’t been done in exactly this way. Recently I know that Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) released one or two of his singles in garage band format. And I know that Todd Rundgren had done something along these lines. Peter Gabriel had a little four track version of it. Brian Eno talks about it in his book "A Year With Swollen Appendices". He talks about the fact that in the future artists will release their records with the twenty-four track master, and I always thought that was such a great idea. Really, right now the technology is powerful enough that people can do this kind of stuff on their laptops.

What makes a successful album?

For me, on previous albums that I have made... the things that I still want to listen to... you know... eight to ten years later, that’s successful. There were a few things that I think now were mis-steps, but you learn lessons through that. In terms on how the music is produced, and what the underlined intentions of the song.

How have you changed since you first hit the scene?

(Laughs) Oh gosh. It’s too much self reflection for right now! (Laughs) You know, I don’t feel any different today than I did ten years ago. I still have the same kind of fears and frustrations. And there’s still the same kind of excitement about the possibilities of the future. I’m sure I have changed a lot, but I just don’t... it’s like you can’t see your own nose... (laughs)

Ok, let’s talk about the beard. Why’d you grow it out?

(Laughs) Well, partly because my girlfriend really likes it and my mom really doesn’t. (Laughs)

Let’s talk about Half-Life again. What was that about, what were you going through?

I think that was a moment where I had not really been in a serious relationship for a while, and there were a lot of not so serious relationships that were just happening. And there was a certain moment where that becomes completely un-fulfilling. It really was just acknowledging that I kind of really did want to fall in love again - I was longing for that. That living life without that is just half a life.

How personal do you get in your lyrics?

Well, you know... I think I was more personal before... on my first record. When I was 24 or 25, writing songs for that first record... I was very naive. And not as experienced as I am now. There’s a lot of lyrical things on that first record - there’s an aspect of it where it’s kind of like the lyrics are coming out of your diary, not that I even keep a diary. (Laughs) It wasn’t as artfully done as it could have been. But now, I feel like I’ve learned a lot more about what a lyric is supposed to do and what it’s supposed to accomplish, and finding unique ways of getting across these ideas that aren’t so predictable or over-used... and also have some mystery in a lyric. Whereas before I would say things that hit the head on the nail too much, I prefer things that are a little more oblique.

What’s your most personal song?

There’s a song on the new record called "So Gone". I don’t know if it’s the most personal, but it’s the most confessional.

What else are you doing besides this tour?

When I get back from the tour I have this theater project called Spring Awakening. And it’s going to be opening in the Atlantic Theater in New York this summer. That’s going to be taking up a lot of my time. I also have this rock band project with David Poe and the drummer, Matt Johnson... and two other great singer/songwriters. It’s kind of like a New York... not so super group. (Laughs) We don’t have a name yet, but the record is almost done. I’m actually really excited about getting that finished and getting it out there.

Is that something you’d rather do besides staying solo?

It’s not that I’d rather do it - it’s just so great to be in a band... I haven’t been since I was a kid. And the idea of making a rock record in a collaborative way, with other musicians that I really admire. There’s a lot to be said about that. There’s no reason why I can’t do both.