Even when I'm in quite a happy state of mind, I like writing really sad songs. I think a lot of people do.
I don't mind going from sadness to comedy in a split-second or mixing the two up.
If I make a song where I'm happy, I sound completely mad - I think my voice is better-suited for sadder songs.
It's really funny - when I'm depressed or I'm having a hard time, I'll write really fun stuff. And then when I'm really happy, I write really depressing stuff.
Sometimes people try to read into my strip and find out what my state of mind is. And I can say if I'm in a good mood, generally the comic strip starts out in a good mood, but the punchline is very negative and sour.
'Dawn (Go Away)' is a sad lyric, but the melody is so happy and fun.
Writers sometimes ruin a book by adding a lighthearted mood at the wrong moment.
Matt Weiner is very perceptive; there's something about the rhythms and the way people speak that is very authentic to the actor. But there are qualities that are dissimilar. The characters on 'Mad Men' are struggling with pretty profound unhappiness, but I can tell you this is a happy bunch.
