Every little kid that steps on the court or the field has aspirations to go pro. I think being a pro basketball player is the best job. The thing I had to realize was that I can't do every dream that I have.

I hate the pigeonholing that's happened in the music business in the last 30 years.

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.

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.

It's just exciting to be part of something that is brand-new.

I'm constantly being courted by labels and their backing. Obviously the market is there when you talk about the economics and the numbers, but it's hard to give up the freedom of being able to do whatever you want.

I went back and listened to the first three albums I made and tried to figure out what was special about them, why people keep going back to them. I think it was because I didn't know what I was doing. I had no idea if they were going to play it on the radio or anything. All I did was write songs, so that's what I got back to.