I would like to go back in time and remind myself that when you're working in music field, it's very easy to overestimate how much of yourself you have to give. It's obviously a competitive field, and it's hard work, and it matters if it's something that you care about, so you have to really pour yourself into it. But I wish I had been more aware of my limits when I was younger. I wish I had understood better that everyone is going to be looking out for their own interests, but the only person who is looking out for your best interests is you.

There were a lot of times that I'd rather be hanging out with friends, or out at a show, but instead I stay home and work on music. It's important to me that I make a lot of work and have a lot of variety and change for myself, because of the kind of personality I have. I have to bring my best self and my best work to the table.

There's not a second of my time on tour where I'm not engaged with something. It is the hardest job - a great job, and I love it - but truly the hardest job I've ever had. There's no time away, there's no time off, and it's so exhausting. I drive myself around in a van, and I don't have the money or infrastructure to do it differently, and I'm involved at every level. I feel like I'm just collecting info, and can't wait to get home to try and process these.

I really don't see the point of making music if you don't love it, and I'm lucky enough to say I love my music, and love the things I've made over the last couple of years and they bring me so much joy.

I will say this: it's important to work hard, but you have to know your limits. There's always another show, but if there's no "you"; if you have nothing left to give, nothing else happens. It all disappears.

I'm lucky that I know so many people in the world, but it's also heartbreaking because I'm only one person, and I only have as much time as everyone else. For every choice I make about how to spend this time, there are a million somethings that have to go by the wayside.

A lot of mantras that I use in my daily life to get through - to move through the world in peace and harmony with myself - find their way into the music that I make. Many of the lines that people seem to be drawn to in my music really come from these mantras that I repeat to myself to try and move through the world in more thoughtful, comfortable way.