I started dealing with my emotional pain by writing. I always had been a writer, but just not songs. Saying things on paper that I would never, ever say, and saying things to myself, admitting things to myself, about myself and my personality, just putting it on paper, is how I deal with emotional pain.

There's another style of meditation that I've been doing since my mid-twenties. Tapping into your higher self to get a glimpse of yourself from the outside and get insight into what's going on in your life. I learned that from my godfather in my mid-twenties.

If you give me half a chance. I'll prove this to you. I will be patient, kind, faithful and true.

I decided that instead of apologizing for having a lot to say, I wanted to create a format where people would come to hear me sing and speak.

Anyway, in my performance style, I'm a singer-songwriter. People can call it neo-soul or R&B or whatever. But at the core, when you see me live, I'm a singer-songwriter.

I think it's OK that everyone's not real heavy and wordy and heady.

What tried to demolish me, I allowed to polish me.