My biggest advice for girls - and this is something that I wish I could have known when I was younger - is to have thick skin. It's something that you definitely develop when you get older, but when I first started, I was so obsessed with pleasing everybody. I wanted everybody to like me and to like my songs.

As you get older, challenges arise that you aren't prepared for, but what got me through it was music.

I can lick my elbow. I know that's supposed to be impossible, but I can do it!

I used to bring my sketchbook to gym class and doodle, because I am a very uncoordinated athlete.

I think the most challenging part of being a performer is just making sure that people know that when you get up there every night, it's unique and that you care.

I consider myself a songwriter before anything else. The fact that I have been able to write both of my records and establishing myself as a songwriter is super-important to me. Some people have that gift, where they can take on anything and make people believe it. I like to do a song from personal experience.

I think just being on 'One Tree Hill' has given me a lot of confidence.