"The creative impulse is varied. Paul McCartney's writing a ballet. Neil Young is very involved in film. Bob [Dylan] paints," he told American Songwriter. "He makes these incredible iron gates. Really beautiful, where he welds things together. So they're very creative."

When asked why his friends are spreading their wings, Simon made a guess it might be the changing music industry: "It may be – and this is pure speculation – because the record business changed so much and kind of imploded and evaporated, it might be that there's not so much of incentive to go and make a record," he said.