Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your latest album, and what themes or stories you aimed to convey through your music?

My most recent record is the four-song EP, Kicking Angels. Each one of the songs touches on the recent decline of civil discourse and mutual respect in the United States. The way people are failing to “agree to disagree” and are scapegoating others is terribly disturbing to me. I believe that the majority of people are not like that, but those aggressive attitudes are gaining way too much ground and attention. I’m not trying to shape anyone’s opinions as much as asking for a civil conversation around issues. If you can’t be nice, then come back when you can discuss something with respect for those you disagree with.

Music often has the power to transport people to different places and times. Can you describe a moment in your life when a particular song or album had a profound impact on you?

Hearing Bob Dylan’s “Tangled Up in Blue” for the first time as a young man was incredibly eye-opening. It wasn’t so much that the music was unique as it was the way the music interacted with the lyrics. And the story and Dylan’s singing immediately drew me in. I remember thinking “What is going on here?” I had never heard anything quite like that, with that much emotional depth and mystery to it. It was like I literally discovered a new world that I never knew existed.

Many artists have rituals or routines they follow before performing or recording. Do you have any unique or quirky pre-show or pre-recording rituals that you find help you get in the zone?

Not really. I do have a superstition about not playing a song at sound check that I intend to play that night. Somehow, I feel doing that is going to jinx the song during the show.

Your lyrics often tell a story or convey a message. Can you share the story behind one of your songs and the inspiration that led to its creation?

I’ve just released a couple of live performance videos. One of the songs is called “Postcards from Where the Wild Things Are.” That song was inspired by a trip to the American Northwest and Glacier National Park, specifically. Glacier, to me, is a magical place. Not in a “pull a rabbit out of a hat,” magic, but magical in a profound and spiritual sense.

So that song is about finding a true home in the wilderness. It’s about discovering the profound beauty and sense of place in nature and the realization that you both physically and spiritually belong there. Some of the imagery in the song was inspired by an incredible hike along the Highline Trail in the park.

If you could curate a music festival with a lineup of your dream artists, who would be the headliners, and what would the theme of the festival be?

I’m gonna take a slightly different twist on this question because, I’m afraid my “dream artists” are mostly older and so well-known, that they wouldn’t have as much of an impact on audiences as they did in their heyday. I would love to see a festival that highlights artists who are great songwriters but are not limited to that “singer-songwriter” category.

What I mean is, there’s a stereotypical image of singer-songwriters as being acoustic-based, solo performers who also tell clever stories between songs. I find that to be very limiting. But they tend to be unable to headline shows because they can rarely afford to travel with a band even though their records, many times have full production on them.

Two that come to mind are Joseph Arthur and Michael Penn. Joseph Arthur has done many wonderful albums with great songs and cool production. Michael Penn had some fame during the 1990s. They both write songs that are smart and insightful and are recorded with very tasteful and creative arrangements. Their songs are what I used to think of when I thought of good pop music.

So, I’d like to see a festival of people like that. Artists who actually get a budget to put on nice, lengthy sets of their best songs with all the players and production that they deserve.

Music can be a powerful tool for advocacy and change. Are there any social or political causes that you’re passionate about, and how does your music play a role in promoting these issues?

I care a great deal about the environment and many of my songs reflect that. I write them because those issues are top of mind with me, but I am somewhat in agreement with the idea that we have come to the point where actually doing things to help the environment is more critical than creating art to inspire action or raise awareness. For example, there’s no shortage of people writing songs about nature and the environment, but there is a huge shortage of people willing to do the hard work of knocking on doors to register voters to help elect politicians that will pass legislation to clean up the planet.

The music industry has evolved significantly with technology. How do you see artificial intelligence and emerging technologies impacting the creation and distribution of music in the future?

I find AI and a fair amount of technology to be rather disturbing—or at least being used in disturbing ways. But I don’t see us controlling or even slowing the technology juggernaut. Technology is great when used for good. When it’s used to replace humanity? Not so much. At this point, I just do what I’m inspired to do, regardless of whether it fits into the current technology platform or not.

Many recording artists evolve over time. How do you see your musical journey changing and growing in the next decade?

I’m interested in writing and recording songs that break some new ground outside of what I’ve already done, albeit within the broader scope of what it is I do, if that makes sense. There are many different ways to write songs that I have not explored and an infinite number of sounds, textures and rhythms to be explored.

It’s always been a goal of mine not to keep rehashing things. Even if a song or recording is similar, how can I make it at least a little bit different? Artists need to try new things to keep growing, so that’s the goal.