When somebody shows up and they believe in you, it makes all the difference.

Everything I have now is so real, so vivid.

I started as a writer and when I sent my demos out everyone wanted to know who was singing and if that person wanted a record deal.

For me able to do the records I want to do and not have to worry about this producer or that producer or that trend, I'm not really interested in that.

I hope at some point in my career when my name is mentioned, someone will say "Oh yeah he has a good song!" I'd be happy with that.

I wanted to put jazz on the record, all the loves of music that I had on the record, so I could show people I was ahead of my 19 years. It may have been over the heads of some people.

Lionel Richie told me forget about the critics. But if you come back with hit after hit, you don't have to worry about anything.