Its a combination of melody and lyrics, not one without the other. Its a confluence of these different elements that makes something powerful.

When I started studying for the arias it was like going into training for a heavyweight title fight

I have to be happy in the here and now because every time you start focusing on your legacy you're really setting yourself up for disappointment.

Tonight I feel like a prisoner on fire, waiting desperately... denied, sentenced forever more. Only your love can set me free.

A lot of my success comes from black music. It's something I'm very proud of.

With the internet, things are so much more immediate. People taste-test things to see if they want to buy the CD

I like the simple 'I love your work' letters. You never get sick of people's appreciation. They think they're troubling you, but it's lovely people associate my songs with certain moments in their lives.