It doesn't take long to sum up the major theses of most popular music: he loves me; he left me; I need him; I needed him, but now I need his best friend. Rather limited scope.

My creativity and my political work are linked. I don't do this work out of guilt or out of responsibility.

To be always in a state of wonder is a kind of sensitivity that can sometimes be an extraordinary blessing and sometimes a real pain.

All my life I have gone out on a limb, but I have turned the limb into a bridge, and there is cool, clear water flowing under.

I'm not allowing my perspective to be dictated by the dominant culture.

When we make mistakes, say, I'm blessed that I have an opportunity to learn from this.

Leaping away from my mistakes has propelled me forward. It has great force behind it. It makes for great storytelling.