COLE SWINDELL

It was an incredible experience performing for the members and attendees at the Diamond Resorts Invitational; it was such an impressive event, and I was honored to be a part of it.

I'm never the best singer in the world.

I'm hands-on with everything. I approve the designs of everything we do because that's my brand that people are buying. I want it to look good.

You play shows all over the country and hope that radio gets a chance to get out to see you, but that doesn't always happen like that.

I'm getting to do, like, 11 stadium shows with Kenny Chesney... seriously - that's bucket list.

I've been able to experience so many things since I've had my record deal.

I've always been a huge Eric Church fan. I'll never forget being in college listening to his first album and how much it inspired to write my own music.

I've stopped questioning things and how things work.

I was a business major, but the more I played music and the more I got into songwriting, I realized this is what I loved, but I kept asking myself, 'Is this what I'm supposed to do - move to Nashville?'

I want people to know that I appreciate every piece of music they buy and every concert ticket because that's what keeps this going. Knowing that people are coming to the shows and enjoying my music makes every long day worth it.

I've always wanted to release a song that could actually touch someone and help them through a tough time.

We titled it, 'You Should Be Here,' for one, because just how special that song is, and I think it kind of sets the tone for this album. I've established that I like to have fun, but this is a little more than that - this album has got some fun stuff, but it's also got topics that I haven't gotten a chance to touch, and I'm so excited about it.

It matters if people believe you or not.

My dad always believed in me. He was always kind of, 'All right, buddy, if that's what you want to do...' My mom was always more of a realist.

Life ain't about just 'Chillin' It.' I've learned that.

I graduated with about 23 people, so if you were the least bit athletic, you kind of had to play everything. So I played baseball, basketball, football, ran track, and played golf.

Even though I lost my dad in just a tragic, sudden way, there are so many more stories that are so much worse.

Sometimes, you want to write how you feel, but making people have fun, that's part of it, too.

'You Should Be Here' set the tone that, 'Alright everybody, I want you to listen to this album.

When I say I'm living the dream, I honestly don't know how it can get any better.

I want people to know that I am having fun. That's the biggest compliment I can get is when people tell me I'm having a blast out there - if they only knew. I'm having the time of my life every night.

For me, that first album, there was a lot of fun stuff.

As an artist, as a person, I don't want to be here for just a little while.

There's families all across the country that miss people, but there's nothing like military families.

My first album, I had to write everything. Nobody was going to send me stuff just because I had a little success.