Gary Clark, Jr.
Gary Clark, Jr.

The guys in my band buy instruments and sell and trade them. But if I have something I hang onto it. Everything is sentimental to me.

Gary Clark, Jr.
Gary Clark, Jr.

There's nothing like a music festival. People are ready to have a good time. I don't think anyone comes to a festival going, 'I'm gonna be a complete bummer today.'

Gary Clark, Jr.
Gary Clark, Jr.

For a black male, the sound of the blues is pre-Civil Rights. It's oppression.

Gary Clark, Jr.
Gary Clark, Jr.

I never expected to be approached for an ad campaign.

Gary Clark, Jr.
Gary Clark, Jr.

I know that I'm capable of moving around on the guitar. I can express myself the way I want to and feel good about it. But as far as technical chops, I'm not a learned musician.

Gary Clark, Jr.
Gary Clark, Jr.

My mom always told me I should have a Plan B. I said that if I'm not going to play guitar I'm going to play drums. And if I'm not going to play drums, I'm going to play bass. I always just wanted to play music. I was completely obsessed.

Gary Clark, Jr.
Gary Clark, Jr.

When I got my first guitar, I played along with everything I heard that had guitar in it, like the Ramones, Nirvana and Sublime, as well as whatever hip-hop and R&B stuff was on the radio.

Gary Clark, Jr.
Gary Clark, Jr.

I've been called 'musically schizophrenic,' and some people think that's a cool thing.

Gary Clark, Jr.
Gary Clark, Jr.

You could say I'm a laid-back kind of guy.

Gary Clark, Jr.
Gary Clark, Jr.

I'm somewhat of a hoarder. I keep everything.

Gary Clark, Jr.
Gary Clark, Jr.

You know, I've never done karaoke, ever. It makes me nervous - I think it's the lack of the guitar and just a microphone.

Gary Clark, Jr.
Gary Clark, Jr.

Most of my songs start out as being very aggressive and guitar-driven.

Gary Clark, Jr.
Gary Clark, Jr.

I'm obsessed with fuzz pedals.

Gary Clark, Jr.
Gary Clark, Jr.

When I was growing up, I would go hang out with older guys at night in blues clubs.

Gary Clark, Jr.
Gary Clark, Jr.

I don't think anything can touch the expressive range of the guitar.

Gary Clark, Jr.
Gary Clark, Jr.

I failed public speaking in grade school, 'cause I was so nervous and scared.

Gary Clark, Jr.
Gary Clark, Jr.

I am the type of artist where you can't tell me anything. I have always been that way. I am right. I don't need any input.

Gary Clark, Jr.
Gary Clark, Jr.

The blues is the foundation for a lot of things. Things have branched off. It's cool how music grows, but the foundation is always there. It's not going anywhere. The blues is always going to be relevant.

Gary Clark, Jr.
Gary Clark, Jr.

There's so much music in Austin, and it's all so different.