As for my relationship to Beethoven, I admire people who can say what they really think. It's as though he's saying, 'That's how I feel about the world, and I don't care what people may say.' His...

If you learn classical guitar, you play Bach, and then John Dowland. He's the greatest. He's interesting for many, many reasons.

Rhythm and sounds are born with syllables.

I'm not a frustrated concert composer, and the concert pieces I've done have been a small part of my work. What I've sought there is instruction, variation from the demands of film and relief from its...

Silence is the necessary soil for any thought to flourish.

Consider what a romantic expedition you are on; take notes.

Singing these days has become a mechanical exercise for many, and mostly this is because song situations that require effort from the heart are rare to come by.

A lot of what a composer does has to do with storytelling, and there are different ways of fusing music with picture to express different storytelling ideas.

I love to go to the bar close by for a good espresso and have a chat with the bartender.

We are always fortunate to have our own sound folks with us that do a great job in ensuring that everybody can hear and the sound is good.

Why should I limit myself to only one woman when I can have as many women as I want?

I love old industrial imagery and smokestacks belching pollution, maybe because Iceland doesn't have any industry, just mountains and beautiful nature.

I don't make a particular distinction between 'high art' and 'low art.' Music is there for everybody. It's a river we can all put our cups into and drink it and be sustained by it.

I don't know how to turn on a computer.

I was obliged to be industrious. Whoever is equally industrious will succeed equally well.

Off with you! You're a happy fellow, for you'll give happiness and joy to many other people. There is nothing better or greater than that!