All men are created equal and all women are created equal as well, but [equality] seems much clearer when it comes to race issues. In the realms of man/woman, man/man, woman/woman love, it seems all up for grabs now. We are exploring so much, but I think we gotta go for the fight for all equality first.

I've always thought of myself as being a warrior. When you actually have a battle, it's better than when you don't know who to fight.

As a singer I tried on all these hats, these voices, these clothes, and eventually out came me.

I always sang standards because the songs I wrote for myself weren't as easy to sing.

I haven't got time for the pain.

I've gone through the village of my songwriting and my artistry, and I've gone through lots of different phases, including one where it has been very quiet and abandoned me for a few years.

We went to see all the shows. American musical theater and jazz were very big.