I spent many years trying to write a lot like Ben Folds or John Lennon or Rivers Cuomo. I think that's healthy when you're learning to write and seeing how chords fit together and how songs take shape.

Summary

This quote expresses the author's personal experience of learning to write music by emulating the styles of well-known musicians such as Ben Folds, John Lennon, and Rivers Cuomo. They believe that this emulation process is beneficial for understanding chord progressions, song structures, and overall songwriting techniques. It suggests that through mimicking the work of established artists, one can gain insights and knowledge on how to create their own compositions.