I've been listening to a lot of gospel. I think it's the most beautiful kind of music. Just thinking about a group of people on a Sunday morning - no drugs, no partying, just connecting with a higher power. Then there's usually a choir joining together on one or two mics, creating this soulful music. So the recording captures the spirit that comes through.
We've always done things the way we wanted to. It's true that our experience affects some of our decision making, but that's a part of growing up and evolving as a band and as people. The first five or six years were really rough. We had no money. We were lost and crazy and made mistakes, but we learned a lot and suffered through tough times, and I think what we did reflected where we were and who we are.
We work really hard. I work harder now than I've ever worked in my life. I didn't finish high school or go to college, but I'm able to make something of myself with music. We party a lot and don't always behave ourselves like model citizens, but at least we're honest, and we're not just doing things because it will get us attention.