Ryan Cabrera first gained mainstream attention just over a decade ago with his debut single "On the Way Down." His first full-length debut album, Take It All Away, soon followed, which spawned additional hits "I Know What It Feels Like" and "True," and was eventually certified gold. Carbrera then released two more albums, 2005's You Stand Watching and 2008's Moon Under Water. And last month, he released a new EP, titled Wake Up Beautiful.

Enstars recently caught up with Cabrera and talked about the main message of his music, how he decided to become a singer and pretty much everything else he's been up to since his last album came out.

Enstars: Most fans probably remember you from around 2005, when "On the Way Down" was really big and you haven't really released anything over the past seven years. What have you been up to?

Ryan Cabrera: Non-stop touring and writing. It's been a fun growing period of working and enjoying the road while trying to record a record. I wanted to take my time 'til the music was right...that takes time. I didn't want to put out a record just for the sake of putting out a record, ya know?

ENS: Your new songs seem to have a real inspirational aspect to them. You have lyrics like "They can try to take us we won't go. We could be the kings and queens of hope" from "House on Fire." Is that the main message of your new music?

RC: The new stuff is very fun, high energy and is meant to be uplifting. I wanted every aspect of it to make you really feel something, whether that be happiness or bringing back certain emotions in your life.

ENS: Has singing always been your main focus, musically?

RC: I never really wanted to be a singer in the beginning actually! [Laughs.] I wanted to be a guitar player, but kinda was stuck with the position in my first band cause no one else sang...I didn't really start 'til I was 19 or 20.

ENS: Was singing something that came sort of naturally or was it something that took a lot of practice?

RC: Definitely takes a lot of work. I didn't really have my own style in the beginning so it took time for me to find out who I was as a singer. I trained with many coaches in the beginning, but just now found one that I really really love! It's a trust relationship.

ENS: Who are some of your musical inspirations?

RC: They really span all over the spectrum from Dave Matthews to Paul Simon to the Beatles to Peter Gabriel. Nowadays, I find myself listening to a lot of super old soul singers like Sam Cooke, Solomon Burke and Otis Redding.

ENS: Where do you find the inspiration for your new music?

RC: In all the experiences that I have in everyday life. My songs are a representation of my life...I find it in relationships, mine and others. I find it in a dodgy bar at 2 a.m. or in the beauty of life.

ENS: Are there any particular favorite songs from your new record?

RC: To play live, I am really having a blast performing "House on Fire." It's such a upbeat party and so much fun to sing and watch the crowd join in and dance their a--es off. I also really like the message behind "I See Love." It's a tune about finding the positive in everything and seeing love everywhere you go and embracing it.

ENS: Do you have preference when it comes to performing music versus writing it?

RC: Well, it's awesome when you see a connection between what you wrote and someone out in the audience. It's always been one of my favorite things to perform live. I dig the creative process, but getting to perform it is my favorite. I try to keep my writing pretty open for interpretation so people can tell their own story through the songs.

ENS: What are the next steps you want to take in your career? Where do you think you'll be in five years?

RC: Doing the same exact thing we are doing now! Playing new music and enjoying spending time onstage with amazing musicians.

ENS: What are you the most proud of at the moment?

RC: Always keeping the music true to myself and not letting anyone turn me into someone I'm not no matter what. Also, I am very proud of all the charity work I do year round, whether it be putting together the living room sessions or visiting sick children in hospitals.

Tags: Ryan Cabrera Music