I like when a teenager comes and talks to me on the street. I've been through a lot and I have a lot to share.

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

I managed because of my mother. I managed because I'm strong. I managed the same way every other abuse survivor survives, you just do. So many people have been abused, it's not rare, it's a very common human experience, and we survive. Also, my music plays a big role in my thriving. Having an outlet, it really makes a difference.

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.

Some people just don't like to be their self. I'm always looking, analyzing myself.

It's always sad to me when certain people are excluded from being considered beautiful... because of someone else's expectation. That bothers me.

Eating is not one of the things that I do now to deal with pain, because I don't ever want to do that. But I isolate myself, that's what I do.