“Surprising yourself is the only way to stay inspired,” M.C. Taylor of Hiss Golden Messenger says in this episode of the podcast. This is the second time I've interviewed Taylor, and here are three things I love about him: 

• He's still the only songwriter in thirteen years of this site to discuss his love for haiku and how it influences his process.  
• The thoughtful pause before he responds makes for some incredible answers. 
• Everyone in the Taylor family--MC, wife, and kids--starts their day reading and ends their day reading (not collectively).

HGM's latest album Jump for Joy is out now on Merge Records.