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