I've had my share of dark days of the soul. I try not to focus on it too much so it doesn't get to me.

At times, I've been so absolutely terrified of what I was about to do, whether it was public speaking or performance. Whatever it was, sometimes it had me really, really shaking in my shoes, and I decided that I was going to do it no matter what. And, of course, the critic is there, and afterwards, there's this, "Was it good enough? Was it really all I wanted to say?"

I don't want to be owned by a corporation and obliged to make a certain type of album. I want to be free.

The future hasn't happened yet and the past is gone. So I think the only moment we have is right here and now, and I try to make the best of those moments, the moments that I'm in.

Just having medicine isn't equivalent to medical care. You need the health systems, you need to create the social framework so that people feel safe.

I understand what it is for a woman to want to protect their children and give them the best they can.

I get very frustrated when I hear women saying, "Oh, feminism is passé," because I think feminism means empowerment. Men can be feminists, too! Many men are feminists. We need feminism. It's not against men; it's about the empowerment of women. It's the respect of women - giving women equal rights, the same opportunities.