I think the one thing for me that's been working is just authenticity.

I turn on the radio now and I don't have anything against a lot of sequenced and programmed and electronic music, a lot of it is dope and it's the future. It's what popular music has evolved to.

Being a parent is not easy, but speaking for myself, it's a wonderful blessing and the most rewarding job I've ever had.

If I want to be moved by the track, I don't want it to be sequenced, I want it to be somebody playing the guitar or piano or a horn arrangement where you can hear the breath. You can almost smell the studio while listening to the music. For me, that's what moves me emotionally, that's what I came from. I think that's always going to work best for me.

I have always tried to keep an honest, age-appropriate line of communication open with my daughter,India, even during the teen years, a painful time of development when they usually shut down, and the last person they want to speak to is a parent. But India would always tell me what was going on, so I really encourage people to be as open with your children as you possibly can.

I've learned in my older age how to let it go when things don't work out, because something incredible that I don't know about yet is probably right around the corner.

I was pretty much a single-father for most of my daughter India's life. Looking back, were there things I could've done better? Yes, but I'm still pretty proud of myself for having raised such an amazing individual. Being a parent is not easy, but speaking for myself, it's a wonderful blessing and the most rewarding job I've ever had.