When I was 17 I got a guitar for my birthday and started discovering Bob Dylan and James Taylor and the whole '60s thing, and that made me want to make songs, to go beyond just playing an instrument. I needed to write I guess.

I want to build a treehouse village connected by bridges in the woods by my house so my friends have a place to stay.

There's a weird period of learning how to play guitar where your fingers are constantly messed up a handful.

The people of Iowa are a rare breed.

I took piano and drum lessons when I was young, and took a lot of choir classes in high school. Beyond that I just play by ear and learn as I go.

I love writing with Colbie [Caillat]. We have something very magical together that's difficult to describe. We're very comfortable with each other, and that's really important for co-writing. I think both of us bring different things to each song.

On tour I'm finding out that I am half gypsy, 40% vagabond, and 10 house cat.