I collect drawings from those artists in the street that draw your portraits—really badly—the ones that look nothing like you. I love doing that. The first time I did it, I was somewhere on a bridge in Europe. I sat down and was actually nervous. I thought, ‘I hope this guy is speedy, I don’t know if I can sit still this long.’ After I got it, though, I was addicted to the idea, because it was so ugly. I mean, they’re so bizarre. I will even prepare myself and be, like, ‘What do you want to wear in this drawing that you’re about to get?’ I’ll find the guy that’s literally the worst in the row of guys doing it and beeline straight to him. I always think: One day I’ll do something with all of these. It will be really funny.
Set yourself up for joy, even after your vacation is over.
I’ve always shot pictures, since I was a kid, and I studied photography. I don’t care about phone photos, though, as it’s not as special. I bring a point-and-shoot film camera and plenty of film, because if I don’t photograph [somewhere], I’ll probably forget I was ever there. I love coming back from tour or a trip and sending my film off to get developed—this is a setup for joy. Life moves so fast, and you don’t really get to reflect on anything. It becomes a huge, messy blur, and you need some kind of photographic evidence of things because otherwise, no one will believe you. When I get them back in the mail, it’s a complete surprise, and so is every picture: I did that? I saw him? Her? Really? Looks like I had fun! There will be a time when I have four, maybe six, rolls of film to develop.
Forget meditation—try a road trip.
If I go on a trip by myself, one of my favorite things to do is just drive. I’d drive to Louisiana, or Texas, or I’d drive to Detroit. Just in some direction from Nashville in my car. It’s not really about where I’m going or what I’m going to do when I get there. I just love being on the highway. I’ve done all of them over and over and over. But I love 40 West. It’s the big line that cuts through the whole country, from east to west. It’s pretty phenomenal. There’s nobody but you and truckers.
She loves coffee and red wine when she travels, although not for the reason you might expect.
Art supplies are something I always carry, because you never know if the next hotel room or backstage will have a nice little area to paint in. Bring some paint brushes and some decent watercolor paper, as it doesn’t take up much space. If you run out of paint, black coffee and red wine are great paint substitutions. You learn that in restaurants and cafes when you’re a kid. You’re drawing on a napkin, you need some shading, you dip your finger into the coffee. Wine is incredible because it has so much pigment in it. You mix those two together; you need just a pencil. A pencil and some water and some wine and some coffee. I’ve made really awesome paintings with that. In fact, there was a lot in my first New York art show—it’s one of my preferred mediums.
Never feel guilty about overpacking again.
I don’t travel light, man. At all. That’s not the sign of a bad traveler. Just don’t pack more than you can lift—that’s the only rule. My suitcase is comprised of art supplies, microphones, outfits for stage, and then outfits for normal life. And then gym clothes, because in every single town, I try to find a Pilates studio. I literally will pack all my cigarettes and my coffee, just in case I need it. I don’t really want to go buy some toothpaste at the corner; I want mine. I don't really want to go buy someone else's face stuff; I want mine.
When it comes to hotels, quirkiness trumps trendiness.