What's your favorite song on the album?
"Rise (The Dog Barks)." It's kinda dark, but happy. It's the most out-there song you wouldn't expect me to write. With this record, I got to take chances and experiment, especially with this song.

How did working with an indie label affect the album?
I got to spend two and a half years making the record, which I never got to do before. I made my first record in five weeks and my second in three weeks. I could actually try stuff and be more creative as opposed to being on a timeline and turning it into some A&R guy who's like, "I dunno if that's the direction you should go in." I don't need a businessman to tell me what direction I need to go in. It's your music -- you're gonna go in whatever direction you feel like going in, and being independent, I got to do that.

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