We want to give kids something to hope for. If one kid says, "Your cd helped get me through this year," that's all it takes.

All the best songs are, I think, the easiest write because they just come out.

Hard to find a better drug than a song you love.

Often people think they know what they want, but what they really want is something that's genuine. So they'll be saying, "Do another one like that," but you liked that one because it's real. So as long as I keep it real and I do something that's real to me, you're going to feel it in the same way.

Start enjoying the things you like about yourself, and if there are things you want to change, either get to work on it or get over it.

Things have changed. I almost feel like it's more adaptable, and you can decide your own career now. I feel artists have so much more of a voice and so much more power now. It's really inspiring to see how a lot of the young artists use their platforms.

3 years ago I was stocking shelves at Target, living on Ramen noodles, and crashing at Billy's house. Now I'm on tour