“The focus is on singer/songwriters now rather than huge shows. I mean, of course there’s always a place for that too.”

I couldn’t help but feel very different from everybody, so I think that’s why I found such a big world in music, and that’s why I kind of – I was an introvert as a kid, but I loved the piano, and that’s where I felt at home.

From when I was a kid I wanted to write. It was so important to me that I was writing my own material.

People that come to my shows are definitely people that feel outsiders. They feel like I don’t feel sexy, I don’t feel like – I can’t go out every night on Friday and I can’t connect to that, and I feel so much pressure to do that.

I feel like ‘Next To Me’ is a great introduction because it’s a simple song that has a simple message for me. I wanted to introduce something that lyrically I’m proud of and introduces me both as an artist and as a writer.

Any song I have to work on longer than a day, I just leave it. It’s not gonna work. Everything that’s good is really instant.

I try to speak of a love that not necessarily romantic. I think there is so much love between people and so much love people want to give but it’s harder and harder these days to show that, to celebrate that, you know?

I wanted to make an album that melodically people can connect to; something that reflects our times and the kinds of difficulties we face.

I tried to bang down a lot of doors but Virgin were the only label who believed in what I was doing. I ended up with the label that understood what I was trying to do.

I mean, there’ll always be room for big productions and everything but it’s good to see the other side.

Anytime I write something that’s trying to be too smart, it doesn’t work.

I always knew I wanted to be a musician, and I always knew I wanted to write, ’cause the people I was listening to all wrote. I never thought it was an option to sing anyone else’s songs.

I’m not too bothered about what category my music goes in and there’s no point in limiting in who you can reach, but I want it to be respected.

It would be sad if we lost our instinct and our courage to love and protect.

Songwriting is my main thing. I know that I’ll do that for the rest of my life.

I wasn’t intentionally trying to create my own path or be original, it was just I needed to say certain things and I needed to express myself, and that’s how it came out.

I think people don’t realize how many hours of practice goes into becoming a musician and getting better.

To attract money, you must focus on wealth. It is impossible to bring more money into your life when you are noticing you do not have enough, because that means you are thinking thoughts that you do not have enough.

Your current thoughts are creating your future life. What you think about the most or focus on the most will appear as your life

I want people to see the dress, but focus on the woman.

Are your thoughts worthy of you? If not – now is the time to change them. You can begin right were you are right now. Nothing matters but this moment and what you are focusing your attention on.

To the extent I can, I try to maintain a laser focus on what needs to get done from a priority standpoint. And not just from an urgency standpoint, but from a value-added standpoint. So where can I add the most value? Where is my time best spent?

I want to graduate high school, so it’s very important to me, and I’ll be focusing hard on that as well.

Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.

For me, I don’t think about size – I focus more on being powerful and confident.