I talk openly about my past and what I've gone through - abuse being something that was very real in my household, and a lot of chaos growing up as a child. I think that I naturally just gravitated towards music that I could really feel on a deep level - and that meant sadness. I was able to connect with that at a really young age.

I will not have my son grow up in a tension-filled home.

In a world where I have to hide my heart and what I believe in. But somehow I will show the world what's inside.

When I learned how millions of children go to bed hungry, my only response was, 'What can I do to help?'

I think it's a given that people know what I can do vocally.

If I was having a bad day, or if something was really getting me down -- boy troubles, whatever -- I wanted to go out and get a new piercing. It was definitely a release for me. Something that made me feel a little more strong or empowered. Because it was something that had to do with me and no one else.

Blues and soul and jazz music has so much pain, so much beauty of raw emotion and passion.