Can you tell us about the origins of your musical journey? What initially inspired you to pursue a career in music, and how did you get started?

Well it all goes back to playing music with my grandpa. We used to sit around family gatherings and events ,which happened often, grab a couple guitars and an omnichord and play old folk and classic country songs that my grandpa and other relatives grew up with. He taught me 3 basic chords to play along with any song he had in his white binder of lyrics and the whole family would sing along. I’ve probably had a guitar in my hand since I was 8 years old.

Who are some of your biggest musical influences, and how have they shaped your unique sound? Can you share a specific instance where one of these influences had a significant impact on your music?

I think growing up in a small hymn singing church, I grew to love harmony and blending of different voices. This became a prominent part of my upbringing in choir, then leading the singing at church or youth group with my guitar. Outside of my church background I found a few different artists that really grabbed my attention. In my high school years I remember loving to sing along with artists like: Maroon 5, Justin Timberlake, Kelly Clarkson, and Daughtry but in my college years moving to more prominent male chest vocalists like Mumford and Sons, Needtobreathe, Kings of Leon and many more. I still remember to this day belting out the song, “The Reason” by Hoobastank for the first time in my parents basement at the request of one of my close friends. It was a game changing moment for me as I was able to break through the fear that held me back in vocal performance.

Touring can be an incredible experience. Could you share a memorable tour anecdote that stands out to you, whether it was a challenging moment or an unforgettable performance?

Touring for our band has never been without some kind of trial or adversity. I remember touring through South Carolina in the mountains hauling our 7’x20′ trailer behind our Big Red van. We came around a corner, just before a long tunnel through the mountain, when all of a sudden every warning light in the entire vehicle was flashing, smoke pouring out from under the hood, and power steering was completely lost. We yanked the wheel with tremendous force just to pull to the side of the road safely before the tunnel where we could assess the situation. Turns out it was a serpentine belt that snapped and caused all of the chaos so it was a relatively inexpensive repair, but we were able to bond through the adversity. Moments like that are painful at the time, but at the end of the day, unforgettable and part of what makes the journey so exciting. I’d never trade the adversity at the expense of the memory.

Many musicians have a pre-show ritual to get into the right mindset before hitting the stage. Do you have any special rituals or routines that you follow before a performance, and if so, what’s the story behind them?

For the most part our band has always been very involved in the whole production setup and often controls our own sound and light systems. I would say that this keeps my mind from worrying about the performance and helps me to stay calm and cool before getting on the stage. Unless of course something is awry in our setup.

Collaborations can be a powerful creative force. Could you tell us about a memorable collaboration you’ve had with another artist and how it influenced your music or expanded your artistic horizons?

I think the greatest thing about collaboration is that you are forced to challenge your own initial ideas and a lot of the time see that there is potentially a better idea elsewhere. I can’t tell you the amount of times I have picked up on some small nugget from another songwriter or studio engineer that becomes part of the bedrock that defines my workflow or process. My more recent collaborations have encouraged me to find extra trainings or ongoing development through sites online in subjects like music production, songwriting or even vocal performance. I would never have thought to look there if not for the initial nudge.

Over the course of your career, you’ve likely encountered various challenges. Can you share a particularly difficult moment you faced in your musical journey and how you overcame it?

I think the hardest thing to overcome is losing key or important people that are dear to us to other career paths, different businesses or even other bands. Every business or company will face this and every person will know what it’s like to have your paths move away from people we love due to various circumstances. I don’t know that there is a playbook for situations like this, but all I can say is that perseverance is the only answer that I’ve found. Keep on keeping on, but don’t forget that you can still find community. That community just might need to be rebuilt from the ground up.

Your latest album has received critical acclaim. Could you take us through the creative process behind it, from conception to completion, and the overarching themes or messages you aimed to convey?

‘Change’ was almost like a time capsule for some of the hardest days of my life. I experienced a lot of loss and heartache in the months and years preceding this project and I’ve found that the messages conveyed in the music are nothing if not therapeutic for my own life. The overarching message of this EP is that heartache and agony, although painful, are necessary to bring out the growth or change in us when the sun does finally shine on us.

Touring can be both exhilarating and exhausting. How do you balance life on the road with your personal life and creative process? Any tips for aspiring musicians who are just starting their touring journey?

Juggling the schedule is one of life’s greatest feats. I definitely don’t have the magic bullet on this one. All I will say is that mastering your schedule through tools like google calendar is essential to stay on top of tasks, events and home life. I will rarely have an unmarked day on my calendar even 1 month in advance. I live by the calendar and it helps me maintain balance with the ones I love.

Every artist has goals and dreams for their musical career. What are some of your long-term goals or aspirations, both in terms of your artistry and your impact on the music industry?

I feel like the main goal of music for me is: “I want to have a stable career in music that provides for my family.” Beyond that I have things I hope for as far as cool venues to play, the size of the crowd, and how many streams or album sales, etc. But if I were to think of one big goal that I would love to see, It’s creating or being a part of a piece of music that would be grammy nominated or even win. I will say that I won’t let that define my career or aspirations as much as my main goal and purpose.

The music industry has undergone significant changes in recent years. How do you see the future of music evolving, and what role do you envision yourself playing in this ever-changing landscape?

Just like technology, the music world will evolve constantly and always be moving forward. I think one of the biggest things for me to not become stagnant or stale in music is to always be willing to learn and grow. I will never reach the apex of who I become and it will always be a climb until I’m 6 feet under. I don’t see the digital side of music going away, but I do think that there is a love and a fascination for the organic and analog way of creating music sprouting in our younger generations. It will be cool to see that side of music be preserved and honored.