I was very inspired by my mother. She was a vocal teacher and sang in a band, and my first memories of her were going out with her on the local circuit.

As I got older, my voice got better.

Most artists try to avoid cliches, but it's pretty hard to avoid them if you yourself end up being one.

Any song I don't feel good about, I shelve. Anything you ever hear me sing, it's because I want to.

If you work hard and you're good, you can build something for yourself.

Smokey Robinson is one of my heroes as a singer and songwriter, a major influence on my own music from the very start.

I never felt entitled to anything. I'm the hardest worker I know.