For me, it's about eating a bunch of fruit and exercising, which opens up the creativity, makes it easier to give ideas a chance and bubble to the surface. I'm no angel, but it helps me, as does hiking, heading to the ocean to catch some waves - for me, sweating it out is definitely good for the creative process.

'Nothing Left to Lose' was an album that I wrote in my bedroom, and you don't know who is listening or who cares.

Ultimately, when you write from a vantage point of faith, humility, and openness to the world around you, people have to respond because those same truths are instilled in them.

I think my faith is a huge part of my music. But for me, it didn't make sense to be in any specific market. I write songs for a lot of different kinds of people.

I think you can hear all my hip hop influences in 'Just Kids.'

I started as a writer. I didn't play music until late in life.

My first album was hip-hop influenced, and my second was more of a singer-songwriter album.

I played soccer. I was really known as an athlete. It was a shock to people that I was doing music. They thought it was really odd.

When 'Young Love' came out, I was really excited, and it has been really special.

The first record blew up and sold really well. 'City of Black & White' didn't sell as well, and that's when you wonder, 'Did I peak already?'

Somehow, my music really suits doctors making out in the syringe room.

'City Of Black And White' was me trying to do something more mature, more adult contemporary.

As an artist, you tend to gravitate to the opposite. I know, when I finish a song or an album, I'm interested in doing something completely new. It doesn't always happen, but that's the idea. My poor fans - I don't know if they love that or hate that.

There are people I love in Nashville and would not want to go a day without talking to, but I want to see the world.

When I was in college, I wanted to study film. My first passion was to be a cinematographer. So maybe there's something innate in my music where it partners well with images.

The first year I moved to Nashville, I started playing these songwriter nights with people like Nickel Creek, Duncan Sheik, and even Ryan Adams... That was the first place I really started playing music, and I had to really step up my game. Really quick. Or get kicked off the stage.

Money definitely does not equal success in recording.

I started writing music in a season of my life where people were telling me I wasn't defined by mistakes, and God really loved me and was fighting for me, and there was a journey to be had with that. And I don't know of a more important message.

I am a micromanager, and I love being involved in every detail of my life, but in the big picture, you realize how little control you have. 'Air I Breathe' is about those moments of surrender where you get to something that is bigger than you, and you don't have answers for it.

Getting married and really digging in with another human being can point out your greatest strengths and your greatest weaknesses.

I think I have always made really beat-driven pop-rock records.

My dad was a scratch golfer growing up. When I'm on the road, I always bring my clubs with me.

Golf was big in my family.

I think the way I love talking about my faith is through my story because I think that's all we have to work with sometimes. I think it's the most moving way to share your story, too - is what you know, what you've seen and heard and tasted and felt.