I like to write when I feel I'm the real me.

I've never said, 'I'm squeaky clean.' It's always the people who project that image that are hiding something. No one's squeaky clean.

I've been writing songs since I was 14 years old, and that's my true love.

I was a happy kid up until I hit the teen years.

I don't know any musician, successful or otherwise, that got in it to make money. Or writer, for that matter. You get into it because you love it.

I'm surrounded by great guitar players.

I love my life, and I love the people that I'm connected to and I love my family and I love what I do, I'm passionate about performing and being onstage. That and meditating and hugging a dog are the only three times I am absolutely sure I will never get a depressed moment. So if I could go from dog-hugging to meditation to being onstage, I'd be good.