There is a healthy amount of self-doubt and criticism with most people that make music. You find your areas that are your best. Onstage, I am good. But talking to someone in the grocery store? Forget about it.
Anderson East
I feel like I've won the musical lottery.
I kind of tried my hand at sports and school, and I wasn't very apt at either one of those things.
I love country music, but I also love gangster rap.
Music was kind of a precious commodity growing up.
You can't take a kid from north Alabama and growing up in church - some of that is just gonna seep out.
I've only ever been in one band in my life, and that was in middle school.
'Anderson' is what I've been called since I was a kid; my mom is about the only person who calls me 'Mike.'
That's the biggest part of going to church. You just learn how to hide your bad in front of people.
We don't do lots of jamming on stage, but I think we have the attitude of exploring things and trying something new.
I've tried to do the sad-bastard thing for long enough. I just want to have a good time.
You have to be delusional to get into this business, you know?
It's hard lovin' folks sometimes, isn't it?
It's really hard for me to be open and be completely honest with a stranger.
It's all about being comfortable, forgetting there's a microphone in front of you.
I have the purest intent when it comes to love. But it doesn't always work out that way. That's the truth. But you know, it's still pretty fun when you're in the moment.
It's always difficult to be a traveling musician and still keep things together.
I did any of the normal things any redneck kid did.
My whole goal is to be honest and sincere with the music I'm making.
That's the attitude I approach everything with: I don't want there to be a lot of dressing on anything.
We loved 'The Crown.' And 'The Killing' and 'The Fall' with Gillian Anderson. All those crime shows are always super fun.
I think when a lot of people hear the term 'country,' they step off from it.
Who doesn't love Tupac? Those records have such swagger to them. The groove is just incredible.
I'm a huge closet Mariah Carey fan - she's got one of the best voices probably ever.
If I had to go back to school for anything, I'd go for astronomy.
As a singer, you kind of are able to feel notes.
As a solo artist, it's so easy to be lumped into a singer / songwriter genre and writing sleepy, sad songs that are very emotionally rich that mean a lot to you, and people just get kind of tired.
I love seeing people smiling, dancing. There's enough sadness in the world, man.
I'm a really big fan of facial hair.
I don't think I am a soul singer and definitely don't think that I am a country artist by any stretch.
I don't think there is a clear-cut avenue for what I do, and I am OK with that. I am just a lover of music.
I hold religious tendencies, but I'm not devout by any means.
