I dabble in the jazz world, which is male-­dominated. If you had two women playing together, it became a shtick. It becomes a "girl group," and it has to be something cutesy. That's hard to contend with.

Music is my only guide. I don't care if people pigeonhole me. Miles Davis is my hero. He covered Cindy Lauper and Michael Jackson, and he didn't give a hoot about what the purists said.

Once you encounter people who are really testing the limits of kindness, that's when you start to build up a shield and close yourself down.

The blowing thing is something that you either have a predilection for or not. And I don't have that thing. It was just unsanitary. I couldn't do it. I am a complete germaphobe.

Your yes means nothing if you can't say no.

Allow the artist to finish the piece of work before you critique it.

I'm always tryin' to do something new, tryin' to look like a beginner.