I was very protective of my father and I didn't like these people who hung around outside all day. They creeped me out.

When I first started performing, some people were there just out of curiosity. I think that happens less often then you'd think, but when it is happening it's very obvious and I can tell what's going on. I had some of that in the beginning, but I think that ultimately I got a pretty strong fan base based on just my personality alone, and my honesty, my music. So it wasn't based on anything else, and I did notice if someone else came looking for something else, they'd probably leave, or complain it was too loud or something.

I wanted to come through with my own voice and, hopefully, have it affect people. I want people to know that I'm not an Elvis impersonator.

I don't think that I'm a top 40 artist in any way. So I don't think I'm that mainstream.

I work because I think that I wouldn't feel good about myself unless I was contributing.

I was always writing music anyway. I just sort of fell into it. Writing for me is a therapeutic process.

I don't deal well with admiration if it's for something I haven't done. Other than exist.