When you're young, the goal is to have a hit. You get a little older and the goal becomes to get to make another record.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I think when people make a record with a goal in mind - like taking it to the next level or making them seem more mature - that gets in the way of writing great songs.
When you're young, you develop ways to win, and you think they will always work, but then you get to the top, competing against the other top athletes, and sometimes things don't work.
I started young. My first record came out when I was - what? 18? So I was in the studio when I was 15, 16.
The best thing about getting older is knowing history. The longer you live, the longer you have been in a sport, the more you know, and the more you know where things started.
When you're young, you don't really know quite what you're aiming at. You're very impulsive and acting on impulse, which is very important and valuable. But you're kind of swimming in a blind sea. When you get older, you have more of a sense of direction.
If you break an individual record, it's because of the greatness that comes before you.
In sports... you play from the time you're eight years old, and then you're done forever.
My task with 'Uh-Huh' was to make a more even record and get away from juvenile topics like 'Hurts So Good.' But I also knew if I wanted to continue, I had to have more hits.
Your first hit in the majors - that's tops. It means you're on your way. When you get the first hit, then you can get the rest.
If you're successful in what you do over a period of time, you'll start approaching records, but that's not what you're playing for. You're playing to challenge and be challenged.