Can you tell us about your latest project? What inspired it, and what can your fans
expect from it?
I will start with the story about our new song that will be coming out on May 28th called, “Blueberry Skies.”
To accurately start talking about this song, you need to know that the mood in my song-writing over the prior few months had been a bit somber and melancholy. I found myself in the dead of winter writing songs that accurately voiced my displeasure for the long cold months that drudged on for what seemed like years. After being told that I needed to try and write something happy because the individual was sick of hearing sad songs from me, I decided, almost out of spite, to write a song that felt happy and warm. I was pleasantly surprised when this song decided to peek out its pretty little head and dance in front of me. Occasionally, I really get to sit back and see the song sortof write itself, and this was one of those fun heartwarming moments. The words seemed to leap onto the page and fit right in place with one another as if to say, “we belonged here all along.”
Songwriting can be a cathartic process. What emotions or messages do you hope your
music conveys to listeners?
I feel like this sums up my relationship with songwriting. I’ve always been an emotional writer and I think it may be my favorite part of the process. Songwriting is another word for journaling for me. I open up my musical diary and start to jot down my feelings and how I’m currently dealing with or not dealing with them. It’s a therapeutic process that has helped me heal, grow and learn over the years in ways that nothing else compares with. I think one consistent emotion or perspective that I like to write about consistently is hope or positivity. I think our world is filled with enough heartache and heartbreak, but beyond that, the wrong solutions or reactions to that turmoil seem to plague our media and even music. I want to spread positivity, hope, peace and ultimately joy and Love through the music that we write. I think that focusing on these things can actually help us through the harder times rather than focusing on the negative.
How has your musical style evolved over the years, and what do you hope to convey through your music now compared to when you first started your career?
I think our music has changed from a young man trying to prove himself in his endeavor to a man who just wants to live a life with purpose.
Music has an amazing impact on those it touches and I get to be a part of goodness being shared with the world. I want to be relatable to our audience and leave them feeling encouraged from what they heard.
Many fans look up to their favorite artists as role models. What advice do you have for aspiring musicians who hope to make a name for themselves in the music industry?
First off, remember that your favorite artists, performers, role models, what have you, are all still human beings. They make mistakes and struggle with things just like anybody else. While I think it’s good to look up to them, I do think that there is an act of going too far in your admiration. For a long time, I tried very hard to imitate a few different artists. I don’t think that I benefited from those years the same as if I were just truly working on myself and being me. Emulation is a helpful tool but also a crutch if you rely on it too heavily.
In the age of streaming and digital platforms, how do you navigate the challenges of making a living as a recording artist, and what advice would you give to aspiring musicians trying to break into the industry?
Making money is a tough challenge for anyone in an artistic role. I think the absolute best advice I have ever had is to eliminate the unnecessary debt in your life so that you can live freely and with a limited amount of cash flow. I know it’s a daunting task, but if you can truly live without credit card interest, multiple car payments, or any other form of high interest payment, you can dramatically change your financial situation.
Your image and style often become part of your brand as an artist. How do you approach your personal image and fashion choices to express yourself and connect with your fans?
Living true to yourself is an important thing as an artist. The audience can tell when you are either sincere or not.
You don’t need to conform to a style or genre if it’s not who you are, but it can be helpful to keep similar themes or styles from your closest genre. We’ve grown in this a lot over the years.
The future is always uncertain, but what are your long-term goals and aspirations as a recording artist, and what can your fans expect from you in the coming years?
Longevity is the main goal in my music career. I hope to be doing it for a very long time. That means that my physical shape, mental health, relational health and financial stability will be at the forefront of my focus in the years ahead. I think you can expect to see growth in writing, seasoning in performance and eloquence in communication and marketing as we venture further on our path.
