If I'm really working on something, writing or painting or really concentrating, I don't even think about brushing my hair.

Just because I've extricated myself from religion doesn't mean I'm not interested in the scriptures. I look at the Bible as itself. It's a holy book, it has incredible literature in it and beautiful poetry.

Why do people want to know exactly who I am? Am I a poet? Am I this or that? I've always made people wary. First they called me a rock poet. Then I was a poet that dabbled in rock. Then I was a rock person who dabbled in art.

The bible is very resonant. It has everything, creation, betrayal, lust, poetry, prophecy, sacrifice. All great things are in the bible and all great writers have drawn from it and more than people realise, whether Shakespeare, Herman Melville or Bob Dylan. Of course there are stories that are still relevant and inspiring; lessons that need to be taught over and over again. And they give people hope.

I know from an early age that I'm very comfortable in front of people. When I was a young girl, I'd love giving book reports.

All of my role models, whether it was the disciples, or John the Baptist or Arthur Rimbaud, slept under the stars.

Pissing in a river, watching it rise.