I feel at home in intimate concert halls. I can take risks and I'm immediately forgiven if the risk is a failure because it's such a cozy atmosphere. It opens up the opportunity for conversation and for interacting with the crowd.

One thing I'm most passionate about is that I'm geared up and ready for another cycle of touring, to go out in the world and be whoever I need to be for someone. For a lot of people they just want to see you or want to take a photograph of that moment. Some people they simply just want to hear you. And others actually have things they want to share and talk with you about.

I've been compared to people since the beginning. When you're starting out, you need a comparison so people will understand you right away.

I was looking for inspiration. I found it in California. The weather was always great, and the majority of San Diego seemed to be youth-and if you weren't 21 and couldn't get into the clubs, you'd go to a coffeehouse and hang out.

Last weekend a young man asked me how I remain so positive. “It seems all the negativity in the world doesn’t affect you,” he said. I had no more than a minute with the young man so I offered this: It’s all about where you choose to put your attention, and I choose to be happy.

Are you prepared to take a dive into the deep end of my head?

I really want to be able to keep going and I realize that in some aspects I've got to treat myself like an athlete.