When I came to Nashville, I was sort of experimenting with a new identity, experimenting with the country world and country writers. I realized I needed to take a step back from that, to be true to some of the music I've been doing over the years and to put that into the world before I move forward and redefine myself again.
In terms of exploring an identity in the country music world, what I realized very quickly was that there are people who have been performing country music since they were kids. It's very much a part of who they are; very much that jazz and blues are a part of who I am, because I grew up listening to and playing that kind of music.
Performing live is easy in front of an audience.
Let's be honest - it's hard for me to get more sexy, but I'm giving it a go.
CNT was a good fit for 'Nashville,' and 'Nashville' was a great fit for CNT, and so timing was right. You know, they're investing more in scripted television - the show brought a lot of more eyeballs to CNT, eyeballs that are interested in country music - so, I mean, it couldn't have been a better fit.
I grew up in Maryland on the East Coast - you know, close to D.C. but sort of in the suburban, rural area - and Nashville felt very, very homey to me.
I describe my years in Los Angeles as 12 years of culture shock.
The music is something I've always done and always loved but always really kept for myself. Something I do for me.
I thought, when I came to Nashville, I was going to hook up with some of the top country writers in town and write some country tunes.
I'm somebody who values anonymity - not just in terms of not wanting people to recognize me or wanting my privacy, but I value anonymity in conversation.
I lived in a little shack in Santa Monica, and I was working on 'The O.C.' and when it started airing, I took my laundry down to the laundromat like I always had, and so many people along the two blocks I walked and in the laundromat stopped me and asked me for photographs.
I love how Hollywood still wants to perpetuate the myth that beaches in Southern California are warm at night.
I have gotten better at saying to myself, 'Relax and just take this moment in. Appreciate it for what it is.'
Music kept me sane between acting jobs.
What I've run into more than anything is people who have a belief that they know who you are. Type-casting happens because people actually write you off. 'You are in this box. That's all you are; that's everything you are.' It's a very de-humanizing experience.
I've been writing songs on little pieces of paper since I was a little kid, and it's just always been something I've done.
I'm a fan of Otis Redding. I've sat around trying to copy some of his phrasing and learn from him, but it kinda falls short.
I've always been a fan of Buddy Guy as a guitarist, as well as Stevie Ray Vaughan and those blues guys. I'd say those are pretty big influences on me.
It wasn't until I became involved with 'Nashville' that I thought I had opportunities to record my music in a way that I would want to put it out into the world.
I've found it really hard to finish writing songs when you're writing on not just your schedule but somebody else's.
