When you're composing, do you start with a melody and add or subtract on top of it until you're satisfied, or do you hear a more complete-ish sound in your head and then try to replicate it?

Probably a more complete sound. In fact, I would say almost never do I get a melody that comes naked in my head. It has something around it. If it's an instrument, if it's chords, it's probably both actually. And then I have to go and dump it out of my head and find it. But yeah, I would say it comes more complete. I don't know if it always did, but it does now.