Anderson East

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

“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.'”

“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?”

“I feel like I've won the musical lottery.”

“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.”

“You can't take a kid from north Alabama and growing up in church - some of that is just gonna seep out.”

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

“Music was kind of a precious commodity growing up.”

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

“We don't do lots of jamming on stage, but I think we have the attitude of exploring things and trying something new.”

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

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

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

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

“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.”

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

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

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