I lived in a cabin in the woods in Oregon, and I'd basically given up on the music industry for an indefinite amount of time. And while I was out there, I came up with a very specific vision of what I wanted my music to sound like.

The best songs for me come from the search for joy. You're in a negative place maybe, but you're still striving to improve yourself and find happiness.

I feel like D.C. is one of the places in America that really holds on to history. The monuments inspire me, especially at night.

I didnt have any knowledge of the music industry when I first got to L.A., and I really didnt know on a creative level what I wanted to sound like, so I had to do a lot of experimenting. It led to a spiral of depression and being broke.

Putting out a debut album is a bit scary - I want it to be just right, so I took some extra time to finish it. Eminem's increased involvement has been such a blessing; I'm getting guidance from an artist I really admire and trust.

I discovered that my insecurities and my flaws were things that I actually need to embrace, and I let them become my superpowers.

Alex [Da Kid] does have diversity, not just in what he produces, but what he hears. He has this knack for finding talented people.