Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your latest album, and what themes or stories you aimed to convey through your music?
A lot these songs were written in the wake of Covid and during that time I had a lot of time to reflect on.. well pretty much everything. This comes out in songs like Man in the Moon, Hope it don’t take Forever and the Title Track Forever Young. I think this album is about being ok with where you are at in life and knowing that none of us are going at this alone.

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?
Absolutely, Kenny Chesney has a song called “anything but mine” and to this day when I hear it, I’m 16 years old, driving my first car down High Pines Church road way out in the country in North Carolina. The sun is just starting to set and it’s just at the end of spring beginning of summer. My windows are rolled down and I’m running my hand through the wind out the window. I picture this every time I hear that song, it represents that moment in time in my life.

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?
I don’t know that I have any true rituals other than just taking a moment to remind myself that people are hear to see you and you need to give them everything you have to give because they deserve that regardless if there’s 1 person or 10,000.

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 think for the most part, all the songs I’ve written are based on truth and experiences. On this record one song particular called “whenever the smoke clears” is based off a article I read that kinda hit home. This article was about a father who child had terminal cancer, he talked about how through the whole process she was the strong one when he was not. He spoke about how in the worst part she was telling him that everything was going to be ok. I think we all know someone who’s had cancer and that story just struck a note with me so I sat down and wrote that song.

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 think I would call it the last of our Kind and it would be all the guys that I’ve been playing with over the last decade. I feel like we are in a time right now where the path isn’t play a million shows and hopefully it works out like it used to be.

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 don’t know that I’m passionate about a specific political issue, but I am passionate about not being a goober. Haha, I feel like so many people will generate hate for those who don’t agree with them and I don’t think that’s the way we should be. I think we should be kind a courteous and understand that not everyone has the same life experience as we do. Just because we don’t agree doesn’t mean we can’t talk about it respectfully. I really hate to see all the back in forth and the lack of compassion for one another that we have these days.

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 think a lot of folks are worried about the AI impact on songwriting and they may be right, but AI isn’t going to keep me from writing and playing songs, so I’m going to try and not sweat it to much, because those are things that I enjoy doing and I try to measure a success based on how I feel about it, not others. If a song turns out just the way or better than I imagined then I’m not too worried about what others think about it.

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

The bulk of the songs I write are based of experience, so naturally as I get older I’ll be exposed to more and more experiences that will shape the songs that I write. I can’t really say where I think we are heading because I haven’t lived the experiences that will shape the songs I’m going to write in the future. All I know is that I will keep doing it, music isn’t something you do for a minute, it’s a life sentence.