I just want to give the people 100% of myself as an artist.

As a white male in America, I have privilege. As a white male who happens to be an artist with a fan base, I have a platform to spread awareness about that privilege. However, songs about race and privilege are very difficult to A) write and B) dissect as a listener. They're heavy.

A world so hateful some would rather die than be who they are.

You have major labels that are willing to take unconventional approaches because the old model is crumbling in front of us.

I can write for weeks or months sometimes and edit it down to a song. I feel like it's a piece of music that will hopefully stand the test of time and hopefully capture a moment in history if I'm doing it correctly and honestly.

I'd always thought that if I could get sober and stay sober, I would be able to have a career making music. My drug and alcohol addiction was the one thing holding me back. I had finally gotten the tools to stay sober, and it was just a matter of writing the songs.

Reading a piece of poetry with no beat in front of 20 people is way more challenging than rocking for 10,000 people.