I was curious and hungry at a young age, and jazz was such a mystery to me, an ocean where you can express yourself in the moment. It represented freedom, it represented wearing wings and going somewhere with music.

I like doing the crossword puzzle in the New York Times, not watching E! on TV.

I'm a songwriter who's put my childhood memories and teenage angst into songs.

The monsters are in your own head

Being a writer is a very private, internal process. Ultimately I am more the writer, being an introvert.

When you're a plebeian you want success, and when you're successful you want to be a plebeian again

Just watching my cats can make me happy.