I just throw it out and see what happens. If it sounds and feels right, then I continue.
I think I'm more influenced, just in general, not by blues artists, but more by stuff from Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder. Stevie Wonder is probably my biggest musical influence of all. And Donny Hathaway.
I detest life-insurance agents: they always argue that I shall some day die, which is not so.