If you come across an American artist right now who has no political opinions or is afraid of talking politics, be very concerned.

I was just a very dark kid. My family was complicated.

If I were a guy, it would be, you know, just a different set of problems I have to carry along.

What I have found is, so much of that is like a Chinese finger trap: the more you play to the dark, the more you will get trapped in the dark, and if you just play to the light and focus on the people that don't misunderstand you and focus on the audience that does celebrate you and focus on the people who aren't trying to tear you down, all that other stuff eventually erases itself because it has nothing to feed on.

Collecting the dots. Then connecting them. And then sharing the connections with those around you. This is how a creative human works. Collecting, connecting, sharing.

You know what’s really cool? Wake up every morning, decide what you feel like doing, and do it.

You know, there are so many snarky angry critics out there who are just sort of looking to tear down whoever is getting talked about.