I think there are times when a song can be a spiritual experience - just making music, in general, is pretty much that.

It's occurred to me I need to laugh at myself more and that I don't need to be some sad folk singer all the time. I don't want to be the queen of pain.

I'm confused that there is a lack of faith in listening to and deciding what is a great song and instead going for these formulaic, bad songs over and over again. But that's what happened when people from beverage companies bought record labels and radio stations as opposed to people who love music owning record labels.

Most people like the sad songs. Some of the oldest songs known to man are sad. Listening to a voice singing something sad is a really great way to help you to feel sad when you need to.

I don't necessarily buy any key to the future of happiness, but I need a little place in the sun sometimes or I think I will die.

I grew up as a Catholic, and there was so much that was beautiful there, and also so much that was troubling. The whole patriarchal thing, the whole male-dominated approach, really bothered me.

God as "he," as a patriarchal thing, is offensive to me. It's standard fare for America - "he, he, he." Every time I hear that, it's like another blow against females. It's very radical talk at this point for females to say this kind of stuff, but nationwide, I still hear females referring to God as "he."