With the style of music that I do, I don't think it's at the top of their agenda to push me into doing any compromising material.

I didn't just want to put something out that I wasn't satisfied with.

I have way too many songs that have music but don't have lyrics.

Cause I enjoy both, I enjoy recording and playing live, but yeah, the rush of playing live is really something.

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

I think I'm more influenced, just in general, not by blues artists, but more by stuff from Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder. Stevie Wonder is probably my biggest musical influence of all. And Donny Hathaway.

Yeah, touring can get rough some times and draining, but I always have to pinch myself and realize that I'm doing what I love.