There's a lot of integrity with musicians; you really still aspire to grow, and be great, to be the best version of yourself you can be.

I used to jog every day and call it my 'gratitude run.' I'd make my gratitude list as I ran. I never ran out of things to be grateful for. My knees aren't what they used to be, but I still do my gratitude list every day.

Once over there [Balkans], I felt extremely patriotic. Here are these people, from 18-year-olds to military veterans, enduring real duress for the cause of peace. I don't ever want to play for a regular audience again, only military folks who are starving for music.

I don't set goals for myself too much, but I'm always trying to write that one great song.

The bands that wrote the big, heroic rock songs - I really wanted to make a record like that.

I was turned down by every record label in L.A. Perseverance is three quarters of the game. Talent's only a quarter. Being able to withstand the word 'no' over and over can build you a pretty tough skin. I knew if I just kept at it, at the very least I'd get better at my craft.

L.A. to me feels like music industry, and Nashville to me feels like music community.