No matter where we come from or where we're going, we've all got memories to contend with, and it's always best not to do this alone!

I was just learning to play guitar when Tracy Chapman came out. She wrote these songs, she played them by herself and I so admired her for that.

I had my guitar and some talent so that I could make friends with intelligent people and could talk my way out of difficult situations.

Seeing how those companies operate, it didn't amount to a massive vote of confidence in their artists. There was talk of me going to Columbia after that, but nothing happened. I got disillusioned, and I pulled back.

Once I was in the city, I really enjoyed it. Just to experience things. There was so much new stuff.

I listened to Billie Holiday a lot in order to learn to sing. She remains one of the extraordinary jazz singers. But my intent is to become my own voice, to be able to interpret these songs in my own way.

It's wonderful to work with someone with mentor status.