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.

If Paul McCartney tells me that so-and-so song is his favorite song, what do I care? What do I care what anybody else says?

What I do isn't black music, it's just my music.

The difference between me and other people in my generation is instead of saying the Internet's killing the record business, I say, 'Who cares about the record business, the Internet is enhancing music.

I was just like a 21st century person waiting to be born, and this is the medium that I thrive in. And I feel stronger now than I did any time since I've been a teenager - I mean, musically, creatively.

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

Being at college, I think that's the time when you really start searching for things outside yourself.