I wasn't listening to that much classical music - not much more than anything else. I was really lucky to have parents who loved all kinds of music.
Cecile McLorin SalvantThe more I listened and became obsessed with singers, I feel like the more I realized that I had my own little thing that I could do.
Cecile McLorin SalvantI just became obsessed with looking for new singers, unknown singers, people that maybe have been forgotten, and really checking them out and analyzing what they do - and obsessive listening. I think that's the core of my work on music - has been just listening to things and listening to singers.
Cecile McLorin SalvantClassical singing - everything had to be homogenous, and it had to just feel like one continuous flow from top to bottom, bottom to top. And in jazz, I felt like, oh, well, I can sing these deep, husky lows if I want and then sing these really, like, tiny, laser highs if I want, as well. And I have - I have no obligation to make it sound like it's just one continuous flow.
Cecile McLorin Salvant