Probably my favorite artists to listen to James Taylor, Stevie Wonder - I haven't gone back in a really long time and really listened to them - my first guitar influences. It's been awhile since I revisited that.

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.

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

When I began my career, I was constantly referred to as the kid who could play the blues.

I definitely have a firm, fixed idea of what compromise is for me.

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.

I feel so blessed, and God has been so good to me.