I actually think it's very hard for me to name exactly what inspires my songwriting. Mostly because it's a whole mess of things that are more or less unrelated and typically what inspires me one day doesn't inspire me as much the next. The things I state here are just how it usually goes.

For coming up with a cool riff or two, a 20-minute walk with the dog is usually more than enough to let at least 2 riffs that I like pop into my head. It's not some that I steal from other songs. they just come to me.

For lyrics, however... Difficult question. I usually have lots of trouble coming up with lyrics, whether horrible or awesome. Even writing the basic idea for a song down is hard for me, because I'm not used to expressing myself (the fact that I don't have, and honestly never have had, a significant other is only part of the explanation. The rest is my own demons to deal with).