I've been in fortunate position of never really having to battle with my record company to do the things I wanted to do in the studio.

Sometimes I'll get a burst when I write lyrics, it usually happens in 20 minutes and I'll write the whole song, and that's really the only way it feels comfortable.

I see a lot of parents now who are really supporting their kids playing music.

But I needed to prove to everyone that I was a serious musician.

Some of my influences are black gospel artists so I definitely want to do a soul-gospel type thing.

I don't want to sound arrogant or anything, but I just always knew that my career would be playing music.

My dad was good friends with the Bad Medicine Blues Band - one of the only blues bands in Fargo, as you can imagine! He took me out to see them play when I was 12 years old and I was really inspired by their guitar player, Ted Larsen.