“After a few aborted attempts at movie projects, to have 'Annette' be s...” — Russell Mael Quote

“After a few aborted attempts at movie projects, to have 'Annette' be so well received to be the opening night film at Cannes was like a dream come true for us.”

“I think we've always been a bit delusional and at the start we really did feel we were a cool, British-style band, but it was apparently not connecting in that way, and was always seen as something more esoteric and odd. But then in failing to emulate British bands, a style emerged that became what we are.”

“A lot of times people ask about Sparks songs: are they autobiographical in a way? And we don't think so much that they are; it's more a case of coming up with these little stories.”

“Starting with the lyrics, 'Only scared of myself and the truth in the stars/I'm a king, I'm the dirt, God within me shine,' the first half of '6 Weeks' delves into my attempts to balance the notion that I have an existential purpose with the realization that I am nothing against the vastness of the universe.”

“Throughout my career, my family and I have fallen victim to inappropriate attempts to contact me by several unknown individuals.”

“When you have 16 or 17 attempts, when you have so many opportunities to score in the first 60 or 70 minutes and you don't do it, the opponent can score. The opponent can hurt you.”