I feel fortunate that I was able to step away from it when I wasn't interested.

The short answer is, yes, I think I have become a better singer.

Quite frankly, I've always listened to the black side of the radio dial. Where I grew up, there was a lot of it and there was a lot of live music around.

I listened to classical guitar and Spanish guitar, as well as jazz guitar players, rock and roll and blues. All of it. I did the same thing with my voice.

I think the women - Lauryn Hill, Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu - are doing new conceptual things and using their voices to create new American music.

My earliest influences were things I heard in my household.

I'm easily distracted by other things in the world around me.