Interview

1. When and why did you start playing music?
I started playing music (well started making noise) when I was 7 years old. My mom forced me to take piano lessons. I hated them with a passion, but didn't want to make my mom think she was wasting her money, so I stuck with it.

2. What instruments do you play and what was the first tune you ever learned?
My first instrument was piano, and the very first song I learned was "Turkey in the Straw." By taking piano lessons for 5 years, I obtained a good foundation for reading and understanding music. In junior high, I picked up my brother's old saxophone and played it for 5 years. I still like to get it out and mess around with it. At this point in my "musical career," I thought I had a good solid sense of melody and harmony. I was missing my rhythm. So in high school, I played in the drum line and developed my rhythm. Somewhere in the midst of high school, I decided to pick up a guitar. This was unlike any other instrument I had ever tried to play, but it had certain "comfortableness" when I held it. I bought a book on how to finger different chords, and taught myself how to play guitar. That's where this story stands.

3. What do you feel is the most important thing about music? (ex. The power to heal, the way it communicates with people, etc.)
The cool thing about music is that it has many uses. First and foremost it is the universal language. Music has the power to heal. If I am ever having a bad day, I'll throw on some Dylan or something, and nothing is wrong. It has the power to put you in a place where nothing can bother you. Music is true to you. Music to me is a best friend - someone I can turn to. Music is something that 2 people can have in common, and it is the greatest thing in the world. Music is just great.

4. How do you balance your music with other obligations?
Going to college is a full-time job in itself. I definitely have more time during the summer to spread my music, but I still find a weekend here and there to play during the school year. My favorite time to play is during the school year because shows are so easy to advertise for. I'll just see people on campus and be like, "Hey, I'm playing at this place, come out if you can," and more than likely, I'll see that person.

5. Where do you hope your music will take you? Or are content with the level you are at now?
Hopefully, one day I will reach my dream - to play and sing in sold out arenas, to sell millions of records, and hear myself on commercial radio everywhere. If this question is, "Do you want to become a rock star?" then I'd definitely have to say the obvious answer, "Yes." Haha. I think that with time and a little bit of elbow grease (as my daddy might say), anything is possible. And that's very true. Think about it.

6. Why did you choose the guitar painting that you did?
I liked that picture the most because it reminds me of some of my first gigs. Open mic night after open mic night, just trying to reach people. Those were the most fun gigs because people know you're playing because you want to - Not to get paid. It's all for the music.