However earlier than that, I used to be extra loud and cocky. I used to be the Eminem child in sixth grade. I knew his complete discography. When all my associates had been moving into their first rebellious punk music, that’s what Eminem was for me. It was stunning and scary and simply arduous.

I additionally acquired actually into My Morning Jacket at an identical time. I discovered a few songs from their Early Recordings compilation on iTunes. It was all home-recorded, and that was the primary time I spotted you could possibly do this. I found out GarageBand on my mother’s pc and mainly simply remade one among their songs. That was the primary time I recorded something. It was a fairly essential introduction.

When did you notice you wished to be a musician?

I used to be actually into basketball, however I began to understand I didn’t have the “Mamba mentality.” I preferred the sport, however I wasn’t that aggressive. I performed one season in highschool, and it simply took manner an excessive amount of time. I didn’t wish to take it that significantly.

After I give up basketball, I joined the drumline within the marching band, which I didn’t love both. It made me a greater drummer however it was additionally weirdly aggressive. You’ll be able to’t have any id—you needed to be one large unit. It was sort of militant.

Outdoors of that, I began this stoner band. That was the primary band that I used to be in that developed a cool sound, and we began taking part in loads of school events.

Had you been partying round then?

I didn’t drink or smoke or something till my senior 12 months of highschool—I didn’t even know of that occuring. I principally frolicked with my music associates outdoors of college. However I went to 1 social gathering on commencement night time, and I used to be speaking to individuals I had been going to high school with for years however had by no means seen outdoors of sophistication. I used to be like, “Whoa, that is kinda enjoyable. I want I had been doing this.” It’s good to be acquainted along with your classmates, however I’ll by no means see them once more, so it’s fantastic.

You continue to reside in Asheville, which is the place you grew up. Did you ever have a rebellious section the place you wished to go away?

I’m solely now serious about shifting, however in all probability nonetheless inside the state. I went to school for a 12 months on the town, and I might virtually see my mother and father’ home from my dorm room, which was sort of bizarre. However now I’m on a unique aspect of city. I acquired fortunate with the place I’m residing. We’ve loads of house and might make some wild noise. It feels prefer it’s far out within the nation however it’s nonetheless fairly near all the pieces. It will possibly really feel just a little small, as a result of I’ve been there my complete life. I can’t go to the grocery retailer with out working into some elementary faculty classmate’s mother and father or one thing. A whole lot of my associates have been my associates for a very long time.

Are there points of being a musician that you simply don’t like?

Simply getting used to what different individuals anticipate from me. It’s bizarre to be a standard particular person. I’m the sort of music fan who will be taught all the pieces there’s to study any person I actually like, and generally by the tip of it I’m like, “I perhaps know the particular person too a lot.” I learn [the Neil Young biography] Shakey, and I used to be fairly sick of Neil after studying that e book. There’s some worth in not sharing an excessive amount of. I don’t wish to spoil the thriller. I feel it makes the songs higher.