Whenever I do my live shows, I feel artistically inspired and excited because I get to do and say a lot of things that I can't if I just make a record. A lot of times it's the only way people are going to hear my music because you don't get to have your music played on Top 40 if you're above the age of 35.

Hollywood, how can it hurt you when it looks so good?

Sometimes you just have to go and make a mess of things to get people to pay attention.

The media is something that affects a lot of people, so you're constantly trying to strike a balance between respecting something and not caring about it.

I do see that the world that we live in is collapsing to a certain extent, and civilization as we know it is caving in on itself. I believe that we are at a very low level of consciousness, and we do not know how to treat each other as human beings. We are caught up in our own lives, our own needs, our own ego gratification. I feel a strong sense of responsibility in delivering that message.

My priority is my family, absolutely, 100 percent.

I'd like to think I am taking people on a journey; I am not just entertaining people, but giving them something to think about when they leave.