"I feel like a new person these days, and this represents, for me at least, a new beginning." - Christofer Drew, Never Shout Never

For Christofer Drew, songwriting is like breathing. The 21-year-old vocalist/guitarist is constantly writing, recording and releasing music for one of his many creative outlets?whether it's the ferocious metal band EATMEWHILEIMHOT!, the electronic-steeped GONZO, a stripped-down solo project or the feel-good pop band Never Shout Never. There's a very good reason the Joplin, Missouri, resident has so many side projects, however: From Never Shout Never?the solo project he started in 2007 that's now a full-fledged trio?Drew learned that music is fluid and always changing. Limiting yourself to one band or one genre of music is creatively stifling anddetrimental to the creative process.

This restless mindset explains why Never Shout Never's sound has evolved so dramatically and so quickly?from the acoustic emo-pop of 2008's "The Yippee EP" and 2009's "What Is Love?" to the psychedelic-pop on last year's "Time Travel." And it also explains why "Indigo," Never Shout Never's fourth studio album, is such a creative leap forward. "I see Never Shout Never as us growing and developing our style and not being held back by anybody's view on it," Drew says. "But the point of 'Indigo' is to define us as a three-piece rock band. That's the point we're trying to get across, because that's what we see the future of the band, and that's where we're at right now."

Indeed, Drew stresses that "Indigo" was "definitely more like a full-band record, more than any other one has been. The writing process had a lot more to do with the rest of the band." His musical foils in Never Shout Never are no strangers, though: They also happen to be his long-time pals Taylor MacFee (bass/vocals) and Hayden Kaiser (drums/guitar). Although the trio has been playing music together since they were in junior high, Drew is especially happy with their "Indigo" collaborations.

"It was just awesome to see them stepping up, because this is the first time they've really been like, 'This is what I want to do creatively. This is what I want to bring to the table,'" he enthuses. "We've really come together. There's been a lot of crazy stuff going on in all of our lives. But this was the time where we really became best friends again like we were when we were kids."

"Indigo" indeed reflects this cooperative spirit, in the sense that its sound is fuller and more diverse. The album touches on twangy blues (the rollicking "California Slang" and "Honey Do"), jangly '80s college rock ("All Mine") and carnivalesque power pop ("In My Dreams")?reaffirming Drew's assertion that modern indie rock, the stubborn individuality of Bob Dylan and "classic pop artists" (specifically, the Beatles, Queen and Elvis Presley) are influences. Still, like Time Travel, starry-eyed psychedelic flourishes dominate, on the flute-laden "Life Goes On," the string-augmented pop sigh "Wrong Side Of Town" and the pastoral mysticism of "Between Two Worlds." And "Indigo"'s multi-part harmonies are also heavenly, especially on the Electric Light Orchestra-esque '70s-pop boogie "Magic."

"'Indigo' is a lot like our live sound, which is really upbeat and fun," Drew says. "And we wanted to show people that side of us?like, the feel-good, fun, chilling-with-the-nice-rock-dudes side. I like music that makes people feel good."

In fact, Drew is immensely proud that "Indigo" is such an optimistic record. Save for a few songs?such as "Hazel Eyes," a longing remembrance of perfect love, and "Lust," on which Drew pleads, "I just want to fall in love"?the lyrics are focused on positive outcomes, and not preoccupied by melancholy. "Life Goes On" encourages people to see the hope in new beginnings, while "Wrong Side Of Town" espouses giving the underdog a chance. "Indigo" is even playful in spots: "California Slang" is a comedic story-song about encountering a series of ladies, while "I'm Sorry" is a clever lament about falling for someone unattainable which features the brilliant quip, "I'm in love with bad timing."

Drew credits his newfound clarity to a combination of factors, including, yes, hope for new romance?"I'm open to the idea of finding a girl and actually falling in love. It gives me this drive to keep going until I find this perfect, perfect girl, and am able to fall in love again"?and finding deep inner calm in ancient Eastern philosophy and Chakra meditation. (The album's title actually comes from the color of the latter's third eye chakra, which unlocks high-level intuition and spirituality.)

"I just didn't think about being positive on the last record [Time Travel]," Drew says. "I wasn't in that mindset; I was just in a weird phase. It was just kind of like, 'I'm just going to write the weirdest stuff possible.' I just got back to writing lyrics that were motivating. It felt good to know that people listening to the songs might get something positive from the lyrics."

It's also a source of pride for Drew that Never Shout Never writes, records and produces everything themselves. The only outside help they had with "Indigo" was using engineer Jeff Smith and his studio2100; Drew even handled post-production himself along with his Gonzo bandmate Ben Wayne. This DIY mentality is a holdover from Drew's roots: He was just 16 when he formed Never Shout Never and quickly found a following for his music thanks to sites such as MySpace. Within the next two years, Drew had toured with the Ready Set, The Cab and Hellogoodbye, played Warped Tour and performed at Bamboozle, and signed with a major label.

Despite his prolific output and multiple bands, Drew is still very much invested in Never Shout Never. "We plan on doing this until we're really sick of it, and by then, we'll be doing it for so long that we couldn't live without it," he says. "It's going to be something we're doing our whole lives." Still, he makes it clear old habits die hard: "We're always changing and evolving, and we're not one specific genre. We're trying to hit everything we can in our lifetime. I guess another way of saying it is: Don't get used to this sound either."