Before I actually got a hard surfboard at the age of 10, like a real board, I was always just trying to stand up on boogie boards or rafts or whatever I had, trying to emulate the people that I saw surfing the waves out there.

When I'm out in the water surfing, it clears my mind and it makes me want to play music and write music, and then when I'm playing a lot of music and touring, I can't wait to get in the water again and surf. So, I'm striving to find that perfect balance, and it's all good.

I just think that's the most amazing thing to be able to go to places like Japan and surf all day and then that night, play music. It's never been one of those things that's disrupted the flow of one and other, they've just enhanced one and other. It's incredible. It's beautiful that I found these two things that help each other out.

[Jack Johnson] really helped me make the record, put it out, and then let me tour with him for two years. He really helped me out.

One Christmas, I just begged my parents like "I want to try to surf on a real board instead of these boogie boards and rafts" and they got me one.

[Jack Johnson]gave me my whole start in music, which was the coolest thing ever.

I grew up in Orange County, California, all over the beaches of San Clemente and that area.