diff --git a/decoder.go b/decoder.go
index fc58795..d1f99b8 100644
--- a/decoder.go
+++ b/decoder.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 	"encoding/base64"
 	"encoding/binary"
+	"github.com/valyala/fastjson"
 	"io"
 )
 
@@ -126,3 +127,19 @@ func readString(r io.Reader) (string, error) {
 
 	return string(buf), nil
 }
+
+func jsonStringValue(v *fastjson.Value, keys ... string) string {
+	value := v.Get(keys...)
+
+	if value == nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+
+	strB, err := value.StringBytes()
+
+	if err != nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+
+	return string(strB)
+}
diff --git a/lavalink.go b/lavalink.go
index aca0648..c50e46d 100644
--- a/lavalink.go
+++ b/lavalink.go
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ func NewLavalink(shards string, userID string) *Lavalink {
 // AddNodes adds a node to the Lavalink manager
 func (lavalink *Lavalink) AddNodes(nodeConfigs ...NodeConfig) error {
 	nodes := make([]Node, len(nodeConfigs))
+
 	for i, c := range nodeConfigs {
 		n := Node{
 			config:  c,
@@ -57,7 +58,9 @@ func (lavalink *Lavalink) AddNodes(nodeConfigs ...NodeConfig) error {
 		}
 		nodes[i] = n
 	}
+
 	lavalink.nodes = append(lavalink.nodes, nodes...)
+
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -103,8 +106,10 @@ func (lavalink *Lavalink) BestNode() (*Node, error) {
 // GetPlayer gets a player for a guild
 func (lavalink *Lavalink) GetPlayer(guild string) (*Player, error) {
 	p, ok := lavalink.players[guild]
+
 	if !ok {
 		return nil, errPlayerNotFound
 	}
+
 	return p, nil
 }
diff --git a/messages.go b/messages.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..94b0a83
--- /dev/null
+++ b/messages.go
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+package gavalink
+
+type basicMessage struct {
+	Op      string `json:"op"`
+	GuildID string `json:"guildId,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type playMessage struct {
+	Op    string `json:"op"`
+	GuildID  string `json:"guildId,omitempty"`
+	Track       string             `json:"track,omitempty"`
+	StartTime   string             `json:"startTime,omitempty"`
+	EndTime     string             `json:"endTime,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type pauseMessage struct {
+	Op    string `json:"op"`
+	GuildID  string `json:"guildId,omitempty"`
+	Pause bool   `json:"pause,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type seekMessage struct {
+	Op       string `json:"op"`
+	GuildID  string `json:"guildId,omitempty"`
+	Position *int   `json:"position,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type volumeMessage struct {
+	Op      string `json:"op"`
+	GuildID string `json:"guildId,omitempty"`
+	Volume  int   `json:"volume,omitempty"`
+}
+
+type voiceUpdateMessage struct {
+	Op        string             `json:"op"`
+	GuildID   string             `json:"guildId,omitempty"`
+	SessionID string             `json:"sessionId,omitempty"`
+	Event     *VoiceServerUpdate `json:"event,omitempty"`
+}
diff --git a/model.go b/model.go
index 98221cb..ac3322a 100644
--- a/model.go
+++ b/model.go
@@ -1,105 +1,76 @@
-package gavalink
-
-const (
-	// TrackLoaded is a Tracks Type for a succesful single track load
-	TrackLoaded = "TRACK_LOADED"
-	// PlaylistLoaded is a Tracks Type for a succseful playlist load
-	PlaylistLoaded = "PLAYLIST_LOADED"
-	// SearchResult is a Tracks Type for a search containing many tracks
-	SearchResult = "SEARCH_RESULT"
-	// NoMatches is a Tracks Type for a query yielding no matches
-	NoMatches = "NO_MATCHES"
-	// LoadFailed is a Tracks Type for an internal Lavalink error
-	LoadFailed = "LOAD_FAILED"
-)
-
-// Tracks contains data for a Lavalink Tracks response
-type Tracks struct {
-	// Type contains the type of response
-	//
-	// This will be one of TrackLoaded, PlaylistLoaded, SearchResult,
-	// NoMatches, or LoadFailed
-	Type         string        `json:"loadType"`
-	PlaylistInfo *PlaylistInfo `json:"playlistInfo"`
-	Tracks       []Track       `json:"tracks"`
-}
-
-// PlaylistInfo contains information about a loaded playlist
-type PlaylistInfo struct {
-	// Name is the friendly of the playlist
-	Name string `json:"name"`
-	// SelectedTrack is the index of the track that loaded the playlist,
-	// if one is present.
-	SelectedTrack int `json:"selectedTrack"`
-}
-
-// Track contains information about a loaded track
-type Track struct {
-	// Data contains the base64 encoded Lavaplayer track
-	Data string    `json:"track"`
-	Info TrackInfo `json:"info"`
-}
-
-// TrackInfo contains more data about a loaded track
-type TrackInfo struct {
-	Identifier string `json:"identifier"`
-	Title      string `json:"title"`
-	Author     string `json:"author"`
-	URI        string `json:"uri"`
-	Seekable   bool   `json:"isSeekable"`
-	Stream     bool   `json:"isStream"`
-	Length     int    `json:"length"`
-	Position   int    `json:"position"`
-}
-
-const (
-	opVoiceUpdate       = "voiceUpdate"
-	opPlay              = "play"
-	opStop              = "stop"
-	opPause             = "pause"
-	opSeek              = "seek"
-	opVolume            = "volume"
-	opDestroy           = "destroy"
-	opPlayerUpdate      = "playerUpdate"
-	opEvent             = "event"
-	opStats             = "stats"
-	eventTrackEnd       = "TrackEndEvent"
-	eventTrackException = "TrackExceptionEvent"
-	eventTrackStuck     = "TrackStuckEvent"
-)
-
-type message struct {
-	Op          string             `json:"op"`
-	GuildID     string             `json:"guildId,omitempty"`
-	SessionID   string             `json:"sessionId,omitempty"`
-	Event       *VoiceServerUpdate `json:"event,omitempty"`
-	Track       string             `json:"track,omitempty"`
-	StartTime   string             `json:"startTime,omitempty"`
-	EndTime     string             `json:"endTime,omitempty"`
-	Pause       *bool              `json:"pause,omitempty"`
-	Position    *int               `json:"position,omitempty"`
-	Volume      *int               `json:"volume,omitempty"`
-	State       *state             `json:"state,omitempty"`
-	Type        string             `json:"type,omitempty"`
-	Reason      string             `json:"reason,omitempty"`
-	Error       string             `json:"error,omitempty"`
-	ThresholdMs int                `json:"thresholdMs,omitempty"`
-	StatCPU     *statCPU           `json:"cpu,omitempty"`
-	// TODO: stats
-}
-
-type state struct {
-	Time     int `json:"time"`
-	Position int `json:"position"`
-}
-
-type statCPU struct {
-	Load float32 `json:"lavalinkLoad"`
-}
-
-// VoiceServerUpdate is a raw Discord VOICE_SERVER_UPDATE event
-type VoiceServerUpdate struct {
-	GuildID  string `json:"guild_id"`
-	Endpoint string `json:"endpoint"`
-	Token    string `json:"token"`
-}
+package gavalink
+
+const (
+	// TrackLoaded is a Tracks Type for a succesful single track load
+	TrackLoaded = "TRACK_LOADED"
+	// PlaylistLoaded is a Tracks Type for a succseful playlist load
+	PlaylistLoaded = "PLAYLIST_LOADED"
+	// SearchResult is a Tracks Type for a search containing many tracks
+	SearchResult = "SEARCH_RESULT"
+	// NoMatches is a Tracks Type for a query yielding no matches
+	NoMatches = "NO_MATCHES"
+	// LoadFailed is a Tracks Type for an internal Lavalink error
+	LoadFailed = "LOAD_FAILED"
+)
+
+// Tracks contains data for a Lavalink Tracks response
+type Tracks struct {
+	// Type contains the type of response
+	//
+	// This will be one of TrackLoaded, PlaylistLoaded, SearchResult,
+	// NoMatches, or LoadFailed
+	Type         string        `json:"loadType"`
+	PlaylistInfo *PlaylistInfo `json:"playlistInfo"`
+	Tracks       []Track       `json:"tracks"`
+}
+
+// PlaylistInfo contains information about a loaded playlist
+type PlaylistInfo struct {
+	// Name is the friendly of the playlist
+	Name string `json:"name"`
+	// SelectedTrack is the index of the track that loaded the playlist,
+	// if one is present.
+	SelectedTrack int `json:"selectedTrack"`
+}
+
+// Track contains information about a loaded track
+type Track struct {
+	// Data contains the base64 encoded Lavaplayer track
+	Data string    `json:"track"`
+	Info TrackInfo `json:"info"`
+}
+
+// TrackInfo contains more data about a loaded track
+type TrackInfo struct {
+	Identifier string `json:"identifier"`
+	Title      string `json:"title"`
+	Author     string `json:"author"`
+	URI        string `json:"uri"`
+	Seekable   bool   `json:"isSeekable"`
+	Stream     bool   `json:"isStream"`
+	Length     int    `json:"length"`
+	Position   int    `json:"position"`
+}
+
+const (
+	opVoiceUpdate       = "voiceUpdate"
+	opPlay              = "play"
+	opStop              = "stop"
+	opPause             = "pause"
+	opSeek              = "seek"
+	opVolume            = "volume"
+	opDestroy           = "destroy"
+	opPlayerUpdate      = "playerUpdate"
+	opEvent             = "event"
+	opStats             = "stats"
+	eventTrackEnd       = "TrackEndEvent"
+	eventTrackException = "TrackExceptionEvent"
+	eventTrackStuck     = "TrackStuckEvent"
+)
+
+// VoiceServerUpdate is a raw Discord VOICE_SERVER_UPDATE event
+type VoiceServerUpdate struct {
+	GuildID  string `json:"guild_id"`
+	Endpoint string `json:"endpoint"`
+	Token    string `json:"token"`
+}
diff --git a/node.go b/node.go
index 9a81197..e00e55b 100644
--- a/node.go
+++ b/node.go
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ package gavalink
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
-	"io/ioutil"
+	"github.com/valyala/fastjson"
 	"net/http"
 	"strconv"
 
@@ -70,8 +70,11 @@ func (node *Node) stop() {
 }
 
 func (node *Node) listen() {
+	var p fastjson.Parser
+
 	for {
 		msgType, msg, err := node.wsConn.ReadMessage()
+
 		if err != nil {
 			Log.Println(err)
 			// try to reconnect
@@ -84,53 +87,54 @@ func (node *Node) listen() {
 			Log.Println("node", node.config.WebSocket, "reconnected")
 			return
 		}
-		err = node.onEvent(msgType, msg)
-		// TODO: better error handling?
+
+		if msgType != websocket.TextMessage {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		v, err := p.ParseBytes(msg)
 
 		if err != nil {
-			Log.Println(err)
+			continue
 		}
+
+		node.onEvent(v)
 	}
 }
 
-func (node *Node) onEvent(msgType int, msg []byte) error {
-	if msgType != websocket.TextMessage {
-		return errUnknownPayload
-	}
+func (node *Node) onEvent(v *fastjson.Value) error {
+	op := jsonStringValue(v, "op")
 
-	m := message{}
-	err := json.Unmarshal(msg, &m)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	switch m.Op {
+	switch op {
 	case opPlayerUpdate:
-		player, err := node.manager.GetPlayer(m.GuildID)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		player.time = m.State.Time
-		player.position = m.State.Position
-	case opEvent:
-		player, err := node.manager.GetPlayer(m.GuildID)
+		player, err := node.manager.GetPlayer(jsonStringValue(v, "guildId"))
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 
-		switch m.Type {
+		player.time = v.GetInt("state", "time")
+		player.position = v.GetInt("state", "position")
+	case opEvent:
+		player, err := node.manager.GetPlayer(jsonStringValue(v, "guildId"))
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		track := jsonStringValue(v, "track")
+
+		switch jsonStringValue(v, "type") {
 		case eventTrackEnd:
 			player.track = ""
-			err = player.handler.OnTrackEnd(player, m.Track, m.Reason)
+			err = player.handler.OnTrackEnd(player, track, jsonStringValue(v, "reason"))
 		case eventTrackException:
-			err = player.handler.OnTrackException(player, m.Track, m.Reason)
+			err = player.handler.OnTrackException(player, track, jsonStringValue(v, "reason"))
 		case eventTrackStuck:
-			err = player.handler.OnTrackStuck(player, m.Track, m.ThresholdMs)
+			err = player.handler.OnTrackStuck(player, track, v.GetInt("thresholdMs"))
 		}
 
 		return err
 	case opStats:
-		node.load = m.StatCPU.Load
+		node.load = float32(v.GetFloat64("cpu", "lavalinkLoad"))
 	default:
 		return errUnknownPayload
 	}
@@ -140,20 +144,19 @@ func (node *Node) onEvent(msgType int, msg []byte) error {
 
 // CreatePlayer creates an audio player on this node
 func (node *Node) CreatePlayer(guildID string, sessionID string, event VoiceServerUpdate, handler EventHandler) (*Player, error) {
-	msg := message{
+	msg := voiceUpdateMessage{
 		Op:        opVoiceUpdate,
 		GuildID:   guildID,
 		SessionID: sessionID,
 		Event:     &event,
 	}
-	data, err := json.Marshal(msg)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	err = node.wsConn.WriteMessage(websocket.TextMessage, data)
+
+	err := node.writeMessage(msg)
+
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+
 	player := &Player{
 		guildID: guildID,
 		manager: node.manager,
@@ -161,7 +164,9 @@ func (node *Node) CreatePlayer(guildID string, sessionID string, event VoiceServ
 		handler: handler,
 		vol:     100,
 	}
+
 	node.manager.players[guildID] = player
+
 	return player, nil
 }
 
@@ -175,24 +180,30 @@ func (node *Node) CreatePlayer(guildID string, sessionID string, event VoiceServ
 // See the Lavaplayer Source Code for all valid options.
 func (node *Node) LoadTracks(query string) (*Tracks, error) {
 	url := fmt.Sprintf("%s/loadtracks?identifier=%s", node.config.REST, query)
+
 	req, err := http.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, url, nil)
+
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+
 	req.Header.Set("Authorization", node.config.Password)
 
 	resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
+
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	data, err := ioutil.ReadAll(resp.Body)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
+
 	tracks := new(Tracks)
-	err = json.Unmarshal(data, &tracks)
-	if err != nil {
+
+	if err := json.NewDecoder(resp.Body).Decode(&tracks); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+
 	return tracks, nil
 }
+
+func (node *Node) writeMessage(v interface{}) error {
+	return node.wsConn.WriteJSON(v)
+}
diff --git a/player.go b/player.go
index d4699d6..cf7480f 100644
--- a/player.go
+++ b/player.go
@@ -1,10 +1,7 @@
 package gavalink
 
 import (
-	"encoding/json"
 	"strconv"
-
-	"github.com/gorilla/websocket"
 )
 
 // Player is a Lavalink player
@@ -40,19 +37,15 @@ func (player *Player) PlayAt(track string, startTime int, endTime int) error {
 	start := strconv.Itoa(startTime)
 	end := strconv.Itoa(endTime)
 
-	msg := message{
+	msg := playMessage{
 		Op:        opPlay,
 		GuildID:   player.guildID,
 		Track:     track,
 		StartTime: start,
 		EndTime:   end,
 	}
-	data, err := json.Marshal(msg)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	err = player.node.wsConn.WriteMessage(websocket.TextMessage, data)
-	return err
+
+	return player.node.writeMessage(msg)
 }
 
 // Track returns the player's current track
@@ -63,33 +56,26 @@ func (player *Player) Track() string {
 // Stop will stop the currently playing track
 func (player *Player) Stop() error {
 	player.track = ""
-	msg := message{
+
+	msg := basicMessage{
 		Op:      opStop,
 		GuildID: player.guildID,
 	}
-	data, err := json.Marshal(msg)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	err = player.node.wsConn.WriteMessage(websocket.TextMessage, data)
-	return err
+
+	return player.node.writeMessage(msg)
 }
 
 // Pause will pause or resume the player, depending on the pause parameter
 func (player *Player) Pause(pause bool) error {
 	player.paused = pause
 
-	msg := message{
+	msg := pauseMessage{
 		Op:      opPause,
 		GuildID: player.guildID,
-		Pause:   &pause,
+		Pause:   pause,
 	}
-	data, err := json.Marshal(msg)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	err = player.node.wsConn.WriteMessage(websocket.TextMessage, data)
-	return err
+
+	return player.node.writeMessage(msg)
 }
 
 // Paused returns whether or not the player is currently paused
@@ -99,17 +85,13 @@ func (player *Player) Paused() bool {
 
 // Seek will seek the player to the speicifed position, in millis
 func (player *Player) Seek(position int) error {
-	msg := message{
+	msg := seekMessage{
 		Op:       opSeek,
 		GuildID:  player.guildID,
 		Position: &position,
 	}
-	data, err := json.Marshal(msg)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	err = player.node.wsConn.WriteMessage(websocket.TextMessage, data)
-	return err
+
+	return player.node.wsConn.WriteJSON(msg)
 }
 
 // Position returns the player's position, as reported by Lavalink
@@ -127,17 +109,13 @@ func (player *Player) Volume(volume int) error {
 
 	player.vol = volume
 
-	msg := message{
+	msg := volumeMessage{
 		Op:      opVolume,
 		GuildID: player.guildID,
-		Volume:  &volume,
+		Volume:  volume,
 	}
-	data, err := json.Marshal(msg)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	err = player.node.wsConn.WriteMessage(websocket.TextMessage, data)
-	return err
+
+	return player.node.wsConn.WriteJSON(msg)
 }
 
 // GetVolume gets the player's volume level
@@ -154,34 +132,29 @@ func (player *Player) GetVolume() int {
 // To move a player to a new Node, first player.Destroy() it, and then
 // create a new player on the new node.
 func (player *Player) Forward(sessionID string, event VoiceServerUpdate) error {
-	msg := message{
+	msg := voiceUpdateMessage{
 		Op:        opVoiceUpdate,
 		GuildID:   player.guildID,
 		SessionID: sessionID,
 		Event:     &event,
 	}
-	data, err := json.Marshal(msg)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	err = player.node.wsConn.WriteMessage(websocket.TextMessage, data)
-	return err
+
+	return player.node.wsConn.WriteJSON(msg)
 }
 
 // Destroy will destroy this player
 func (player *Player) Destroy() error {
-	msg := message{
+	msg := basicMessage{
 		Op:      opDestroy,
 		GuildID: player.guildID,
 	}
-	data, err := json.Marshal(msg)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	err = player.node.wsConn.WriteMessage(websocket.TextMessage, data)
+
+	err := player.node.wsConn.WriteJSON(msg)
+
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+
 	delete(player.manager.players, player.guildID)
 	return nil
 }