I try to make an album that reflects what I love about country music. It's not just all about happy parties all the time. There are some sad songs.

I love sad songs. They say so much. I love country music but even the happy songs sound really sad.

Everybody has their favorite sad songs. That's part of what I love so much about country music. Country music is never afraid to go with a sad song.

I think the great country songs mixed with some of that bluegrass instrumentation - and surrounding all that with a little bit of a rock vibe and energy - is the kind of music I make.

I still feel like that 17-year-old-kid that fell in love with country music, but I also am allowed to write songs about being a man, too, which I think is the coolest place I've ever been in my life.

That's what I love about Nashville and the music community - seeing kids around acoustic music and bluegrass picking parties is the best.