Anderson East

My whole goal is to be honest and sincere with the music I'm making.

I hold religious tendencies, but I'm not devout by any means.

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 don't think I am a soul singer and definitely don't think that I am a country artist by any stretch.

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.

I'm a really big fan of facial hair.

I love seeing people smiling, dancing. There's enough sadness in the world, man.

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.

As a singer, you kind of are able to feel notes.

If I had to go back to school for anything, I'd go for astronomy.

I feel like I've won the musical lottery.

I'm a huge closet Mariah Carey fan - she's got one of the best voices probably ever.

Who doesn't love Tupac? Those records have such swagger to them. The groove is just incredible.

I think when a lot of people hear the term 'country,' they step off from it.

We loved 'The Crown.' And 'The Killing' and 'The Fall' with Gillian Anderson. All those crime shows are always super fun.

That's the attitude I approach everything with: I don't want there to be a lot of dressing on anything.

I love country music, but I also love gangster rap.

I did any of the normal things any redneck kid did.

It's always difficult to be a traveling musician and still keep things together.

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 all about being comfortable, forgetting there's a microphone in front of you.

It's really hard for me to be open and be completely honest with a stranger.

It's hard lovin' folks sometimes, isn't it?

You have to be delusional to get into this business, you know?

I've tried to do the sad-bastard thing for long enough. I just want to have a good time.