You can't listen to what people who aren't musical have to say. When Anytime was released, I had bad reviews, and at first I was hurt. Your songs are like your children. You don't want to hear, 'Your kid is ugly.' But I knew the record was good and it would sell.

I listen to all kinds of songs. There's something to be learned from every type of music and from the one making it, whether it's pop or jazz or hip-hop.

Every song that I've done is me in one way or another.

You'd hear Willie Nelson, then Earth, Wind & Fire, then Chicago, then Billy Joel on the same radio station. Nowadays, everything is compartmentalized.

It is great to have your own label; you can cultivate your own artists I've worked with pretty much everyone I wanted to.

Music used to be essential and meaningful, but now it's disposable.

I'm never satisfied with what I do.