I definitely listened to Lauryn Hill - her's was like the first album I bought myself. Brandy's Never Say Never and Lauryn Hill's The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill were always in rotation for a couple of years.

I think the world tries to put people in a box, like this is the only appropriate way to be beautiful.

My mom has kind of been more of the emotional support system. One time I was really feeling all out of it, just dealing with a lot of cooks in the kitchen and adjusting to what it means to be in the music industry, and I called her. One of the first things she said to me was 'You have to be thankful that these people even like you, no one liked me, at all, I was not really accepted for a very long time.'

In New York everyone just kind of knows each other.

I love writing to my little sister. It's a very nice, easy kind of way I always find inspiration.

I was also just strong and quick - it wasn't hard for me to learn how to dance. I was a natural at it.

Making that statement of 'I'm not afraid to be untamed.' It's just kind of the marriage of those two things.