My thing with New York was that it felt so insular. When I went to L.A., everybody I knew was a cool, amazing musician. In New York, they'd be hunkered down trying to form a band. But in L.A., guys in bands were also playing with other artists, touring with other artists, and collaborating with other artists.

LP

Categorized in : Cool New Down Amazing

I guess I just feel very comfortable with being myself.

feel being myself being-myself

It is very hard leaving home for life on the road. The toll that it takes is actually immeasurable, and you can think all you want about what it does to your relationships, but the way it actually plays out is very deep and very unique to those personalities that are involved.

road you home life

I do rock the sunglasses. To a rude point, at times. But I don't care, it's my first defence. I'm shy, so I've gotta have something. I need some protection, man.

man sunglasses shy care

I have a retro feel to my work, to my person, but I also have a futuristic view of what's possible. We can have people in pop that have more diverse looks and attitudes.

view feel work people

I appreciate good work no matter where it's coming from.

good good-work appreciate work

The myriad of ways that a song can be interpreted is astounding to me, and it's part of the allure of writing.

ways me writing song

I was done with my second major label deal, and I was doing a lot of urban sessions, and I had an acoustic itch. And you know, I picked up a ukulele. I always wanted one. And it just resonated with me. I would wake up with this uke in my hand. For me the ukulele just opened this door in my heart.

me you wake-up heart

I think that people relate on matters of the heart.

matters think heart people

Trying to launch a career as an artist is like trying to run through a crowd holding hands with five people. It's so difficult.

artist trying hands people

I found New York too... 'vertical,' closed off, I didn't feel the muse like I did in L.A. Maybe it's the weather?

new feel new-york weather

I'm a songwriter-singer. I'm very vocal oriented, of course, but songwriting - no matter whether it's for myself or another artist - is of paramount importance to it all.

myself songwriting artist matter

I'm very accepting of how people live their lives.

live how accepting people

My mom died before she knew I was gay, and my dad thought it was a phase, then realized it wasn't.

thought dad gay mom

I would wear sunglasses all the time if it wasn't looked down upon in certain situations. I always thought I'd be someone who wore sunglasses like Roy Orbison.

down thought sunglasses time

'Girls Go Wild' was born out of a Joshua Tree excursion with some close friends after coming home from a long bit of touring.

friends home tree long

I'm always working my own thing. A few times a week - I try to not go too crazy - I'm working with some other artist. But I'm constantly working my own stuff, and my own stuff seems to come in little bursts.

try my-own crazy artist

I just want to feel free. If someone feels inspired by it, then fine.

feel free someone want

I think everybody needs to find out who they are and who their, like, inner superhero is, or who you like to be. The world would be a better place if everyone was doing what the hell they wanted to do and being who they wanted to be.

think you hell world

To me, rock and roll is not a perfect science.

me rock-and-roll perfect science

'Pop' is not a bad word. What's more interesting than changing the chemistry in a room in three minutes with a song?

bad chemistry three song