I don't think being a musician makes me a role model at all. But I do believe that I have responsibility to offer people a helping hand when and if I can, just the same way that others have helped me. I think that it's important to keep that cycle going, and to give back to whatever your personal definition of community is.

Though the inspiration for my songs almost always comes from things that are happening around me, I am definitely not always the protagonist in the songs.

In terms of songwriting I think it might be a circular thing. I tend to go back and forth between quieter melancholy songs and more forceful, less traditional structures. I think when I find myself leaning too far in one direction I kind of rebel against it and pull the other way.

I feel like the songs that I write are best when they are performed by an ensemble, rather than by one solo instrument.

I don't consider myself a skilled enough instrumentalist to be able to create the atmosphere that I want with just my guitar by myself.

I don't think being a musician makes me a role model at all. But I do believe that I have responsibility to offer people a helping hand when and if I can, just the same way that others have helped me. I think that it's important to keep that cycle going, and to give back to whatever your personal definition of community is.

I think I'm a lot happier than people might think from listening to my songs.