My dad plays guitar in the church band, so it's like music as a service. He plays at old-people homes, so that's like music as a gift.
Negativity, in general, is one of the things that holds people back, and you have to see what's holding you back to get away from it.
'No Burden' is not necessarily ferocious.
'Night Shift' is the only breakup song I've ever written.
I called it 'Historian' because I feel like most of my creative efforts are efforts to capture something or to document it.
I've written in the middle of a conversation or the grocery store or at another band's concert or in the last moments before falling asleep. It's pretty unpredictable. I think it's always flowing, and sometimes I'm not listening. There's no formula for when I'm going to be able to be a good listener to myself.
What's cool about Matador is that everyone I've met there is just so chill and really into what they're doing. Everyone that works there, there's just such a lack of ego, and there's such a commitment to what they're doing. They all like each other.
The phrase 'no burden' largely captured what I wish people believed about themselves.
I've been adjusting to what it means to be a songwriter, figuring out what I like about it and what I don't like about it and what it means to me as opposed to other people.
I never considered a career in music because it was too unattainable. I just didn't believe it was possible.
There's a lot of art that's about loss and sadness, but I would love it if hopefulness were more of a cliche. That's the work that always sticks with me and emboldens me in life.
It's important for me to write songs that feel good to sing every night and remind me of my core, truest beliefs.
If you can come out from under pain, why wouldn't you? You definitely can. There's no question.
Music was always encouraged as a passion and a hobby, but I was never told, 'This should be your job. You write music and record for a living.' It doesn't happen for people.
Speaking and singing were equally common in my house. I started songwriting about the time that I started forming sentences.
My mom is an elementary school music teacher, a pianist, and a singer, and my dad plays guitar - he's a huge Bruce Springsteen fan. My mom does musical theater, too. All of those influences were around.
I really believe in hopefulness and respect people that are hopeful. I think I'm at my best when I think hopefully.
Even people that are close to me or people that are acquaintances... The only question I get now is, 'How is music going?' It's an overpowering quality of my life now, the fact that I write songs. It's weird to navigate what that means socially.
People actually tell me that I'm living my dream. And I'm like, 'It's a little more nuanced than that.'
Even if somebody wanted to tell me what one of my songs meant to him or her, I can't do it - I would be probably put to tears every time.
