I've probably gone a month or two without playing guitar, just because I've gotten so burnt on it touring all year or whatever.

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.

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 moved from Minnesota out to Los Angeles and I thought I was going to hate it out there, but I really like it.

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

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.