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

My parents had a huge pile of records - vinyl! - that I loved, especially the Motown stuff, Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding.

I always knew I wanted to be a musician.

My passion is for playing music and although everyone needs a break sometimes just to keep things interesting and fresh, there's no way I would ever give that up.

I've been getting into different gospel artists; Aretha Franklin is someone I've been listening to a lot of.

I'm glad I've learned what I've learned when I learned it.

I'm not a fast, stream-of-consciousness lyricist at all - I know some guys who are, and if there is one skill I wish I had, it's that.