I definitely dislike pomposity and artifice. I hope that I'm not that. Once I write a song, it belongs to the world, and the way people perceive it, it's cool.

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

When you have that first flash of what you think is going to be a great idea-from the mouth, from the hands-that's an amazing feeling. I don't think anything's quite as good as that.

I wanted to show the world, and myself too, what I can do. I came up in the world of Philadelphia soul, but I'm fluent in a lot of languages musically and I like working with different people from different generations.

Americans think that if you're popular, there must be something wrong with you.

I have to say I have never been comfortable with somebody else telling me what to do - in any way.

I think Philadelphia has been underrated over the years as a musical region.