Jens Lekman

“I went to Legoland in Denmark when I was five, I think, but I went to Germany when I was 17 to have a little adventure after graduation.”

“I wouldn't write about something that I haven't experienced myself.”

“Once I release a song, it's not just about me or the people... I write about. They're my stories, but they're not really mine any more.”

“I'm not too fond of the typical Australian activities or culture. I'm not into surfing - that's what I'm trying to say.”

“Of the times that I've been able to overcome a fear, it's been by making it something that I can understand, that I can hold on to - just something that's more tangible.”

“I realised that music controls me more than I control music. I had to write songs that were convincing me that things would get better.”

“I realize that 'Postcards' was like input, and 'Ghostwriting' was output. I had all these frustrations and feelings before I did those two projects. 'Postcards' was something that brought new life and creative inspiration into the record, while 'Ghostwriting' was relieving myself.”

“Any band that doesn't have a sense of humor has a little bit of a problem.”

“I think it's healthy that people that work in a creative field look for inspiration in a different creative field.”

“I think it's because Toronto is the Gothenburg of Canada, with the trends and the music and everything. I feel very at home when I'm there. Everyone has always been so kind to me.”

“My aim is for every song to have a purpose - for you to be able to say, 'This song is about this.' But love and heartbreak are some of the most abstract subjects.”

“I feel like it's my responsibility not to leave the listener in a pool of dread.”

“I really love the idea of stepping into another character and being able to sing maybe stuff that is not my thought and my own opinions, but be able to portray someone else and take a walk in their shoes for a while.”

“I think there are definitely a lot of subjects I don't share with people, but I'm not sure where that border is.”

“The 'sent' folder of my email program is really my biggest inspiration and my biggest source of lyrics. That's where I go to pick up a lot of the lyrics that I'm writing.”

“I think South Korea was one of the best shows I've ever done in my whole life. The people there were crazy. It was literally Beatlemania.”

“Older men in my family - back to my grandpa - were basically completely bald.”

“One of the nice things about songwriting is you can be inspired by absolutely anything.”

“I'm very very happy for my hardships and misfortunes: they build character and make you a better person. Even if I think it's something you have to carry with you, it's definitely something that makes you more empathic towards other people, makes you understand people and relationships so much better.”

“I struggled with a lot of doubts around my songwriting and around what I was and what my purpose and mission were.”