I think I'm a living embodiment of, 'Don't try to push me around or squash me,' whether its how I talk to a record label or in my relationships.

It's a lot harder to be clear-headed, but the good stuff is when you start realizing who's really you.

I would like to inspire a lot of people to be active and give back.

In blues, classical and jazz, you get more revered with age.

I don't want to discredit people's opinions of me, but you talk about the violin or the cello or lead guitar where you have to learn tons of chords, that's much more difficult.

I have been really heartened by how much coverage there has been about inequality of pay across the board, between the entertainment industry and almost every industry worldwide. And just the problem of young women not getting an education, not being able to have an equal position in the cultures all around the world.

We can choose, you know, we ain't no amoeba.