I'm aware that there are a million other people who want what I'm lucky enough to have right now.

We're really critical with the process of who we hire. But when you put great people in position, that's how you avoid any missteps.

If you look at any creative person's work, you can see bits and pieces of their influences. That's what an artist does.

I think you should always push yourself to want to grow and learn more and be inspired and develop.

I feel like if you're stuck doing the same thing your whole career you've got to be doing something wrong. Unless you're getting great results from it or you're just comfortable in that spot.

I've definitely grown and evolved as a person, as an artist, you know. Just in terms of my style, my taste, my influences, everything... That's a part of being an artist I think.

I think the most important thing is to be yourself and be genuine and don't try to tell anybody else's story but your own. And if it comes from a genuine place, I think people can tell, and if it doesn't, I think people can tell, and I think that eventually it shows.

It's just crazy to look back at what I was wearing in high school.

What costs the world to you as a working kid fresh out of college costs nothing to you as a successful musician.

The thing is, I've always wanted to be a star. I've always wanted to be an Elvis Presley or a Tupac - like, a huge icon.