I've always been very private, maybe because I discovered my mother, who is a wonderful lady, is very emotional.

I don't know if we tell women great news about themselves enough. You'd be surprised how often a young woman doesn't hear positive things about herself - not in her home, not at school. It's hard to create a beautiful image for yourself when you've never seen it or heard it.

When I'm on stage, my interaction with the audience is something that really makes me come alive. It's a feeling like no other. The energy of the crowd fuels something new inside. It reminds me to live in the moment.

When I was a kid I'd practise Chopin on piano - and I love Chopin! He's my dawg! Then I'd go out on the stoop and blast the radio. I'm from New York, the concrete jungle. Hip-hop influenced me from day one.

We believe Frederick Nietzsche couldn't have been more right when he said 'without music, life would be a mistake.

Music is funny. I shouldn't even ever talk about music, because you can have all the ideas in your head, and it never goes exactly the way that you think it's gonna go.

I have this vintage Harley-Davidson motorcycle jacket. When I put it on, it has this supercool feeling to it.