Social topics may hit too close to home for people, but then again, if you pull a heartstring, then that's what country music is. It's not just songs about getting drunk and leaving your girl.

I felt as a human being I needed to take a pause and reflect on a lot of stuff that's happened. That was really good for me. And to get some of the ringing out of my years from all the amps on stage.

I need to recharge creatively, and get off the clock of having to be somewhere just because, and having to keep juggling all these things.

Before, I was more concerned with getting on the radio, like many young artists.

I needed to be pushed as an artist and as a person.

I've been focused for a long time. I've given my life to do music. I've sacrificed everything.

There were [in 21] all those times in my life that I didn't know this was going to happen. I didn't know if anybody was going to care about our music.