Van Morrison

I think when you get past your second album, it all becomes something of a routine. So you have to struggle against that, find a way of making what you do sound fresh and new each time.

I am about the arrangements and the layers of depth in the music.

My records do not require a lot of thought of 'What is this?' and 'What is that?' That would be too contrived for me.

I put out records to this day that are not necessarily in a sequence of anything. Some could be written a while back, some not. There is no set pattern.

My thinking musically has always been more advanced - it is difficult to get it down onto paper sometimes, even now.

For a long time, I couldn't actually deal with playing concerts; it was a totally alien concept to me, 'cause I was used to playing in clubs and dance halls.

You learn to read the audiences after a while, and there are all different kinds of gigs.

Singing is my profession - there is no plan B.

I don't feel comfortable doing interviews. My profession is music, and writing songs. That's what I do. I like to do it, but I hate to talk about it.

Being famous was extremely disappointing for me. When I became famous it was a complete drag and it is still a complete drag.

I write songs. Then, I record them. And, later, maybe I perform them on stage. That's what I do. That's my job. Simple.

I just need somewhere to dump all my negativity.

As a developing musician, skiffle became a platform for me to start playing music.

Even today, skiffle is a defining part of my music. If I get the opportunity to just have a jam, skiffle is what I love to play.

Every performance is different. That's the beauty of it.

Hearing the blues changed my life.

I always record far more than I can use. There's probably twice as much recorded as comes out.

I do see value in music criticism. Most of the criticism I have received over the years has been very good.

I educated myself. To me, school was boring.

I learnt from Armstrong on the early recordings that you never sang a song the same way twice.