"When you write songs, you can't really point out the exact thing you're inspired by. It's more a state or a mood or an atmosphere that you're trying to put into words"

In this quote, Keren Ann is expressing the difficulty of determining a particular source of inspiration when writing tunes. She suggests that it is not a tangible object or event that motivates her, however rather a feeling or environment that she is attempting to catch and communicate through her lyrics. This highlights the abstract and subjective nature of the innovative process, where ideas and feelings can be challenging to articulate and translate into words. Keren Ann's words also speak with the power of music to evoke emotions and create a specific state of mind, as she strives to record and convey these intangible components through her songwriting.