I wrote the songs over a three-year period, so a lot of different things happened in my life. I experienced the birth of my son as well as the loss of a few dear friends and family. It really forced me to be more existentially minded. Rick Rubin helped me to be honest and vulnerable. There really wasn’t much hesitation. Our goal was to create an album that really encompassed all the emotions of life and death that I had experienced in the most raw and real way.

Many of my biggest influences were very versatile and sometimes even genreless. I love Harry Nilsson in particular. He tried all sorts of things but at the end of the day it was still Harry because his words were his. I love the drama and eccentricity of Queen. The vulnerability and directness of Cat Stevens.

We wanted to go to new ground on this record. Rick would often question if a song was too in the box, or not exciting enough to pursue due to it feeling too contrived. He also pushed me to be less metaphorical with lyrics. We sat down together and went over every lyric from every song. He wanted to understand it all and be sure of the honesty and everything that I said.

Nothing makes me feel closer to humanity than a tour. Language has not seemed to be a barrier for us. I think those who listen to the Dragons feel the emotion within the music and melody even if sometimes the language is a barrier. But truthfully it has never seemed to be a barrier. Everywhere we go around the world they sing along with me.

Music has always been incredibly cathartic and therapeutic for me. I started writing at the age of 12 because it helped me confront depression and anxiety. It gave me a sounding board to voice my deepest feelings that I couldn’t say aloud. It still does the same thing for me today at 34 years old. I’ve written hundreds of songs that no one will ever hear. They are my journal entries and have served as therapy for me.

The first track on the album, My Life, really serves as a springboard for many reasons. It confronts some difficult truths for me that I’ve always been afraid of voicing aloud. I wanted to start the record with this song because it sets a precedent of vulnerability and truth that the rest of the record follows.

I have been working on developing a PC game for a couple years now and can speak on that more in the near future. That has been a real passion project for me, and it certainly will go hand in hand with music as well.

This is the longest time we have taken off between album cycles. It’s been over three years. I wrote literally hundreds of demos that didn’t make the cut. We narrowed it down to 70 with Rick Rubin and then brought 30 into the studio to actually flush out with the band. Then that got narrowed down even more. I’m always writing as it is more of a lifestyle for me than a career choice. I’ve written a song almost every couple days since I was 12.

I really don’t think much about that. I think the pressure would be the death of me. We just try to go to whatever place excites us sonically, and as far as lyrically and melodically I just am expressing wherever I’m at in life.

It certainly has been a hard few years for everyone. The solidarity is something that has been very difficult at times but also revealing in positive ways. I’ve spent a great deal of time just being a dad and enjoying the constant time with my four kids and wife. I’m sure the loneliness of it all played an impact on this record though. But more so I would say this record is about the finality of life.

We have been putting together our biggest world tour yet and will bring this album to as many places as we can. Performing live is my favorite part of my career. This will be our biggest production yet.