Girls take up a lot of room. I had a lot of room for this one.

Nothing connects to the moment like music. I count the music to bring me back, or more precisely, to bring her forward.

Every mix tape tells a story. Put them together, and they add up to the story of life.

Unlike me, Renee was not shy; she was a real people-pleaser. She worried way too much what people thought of her, wore her heart on her sleeve, expected too much from people, and got hurt too easily. She kept other people's secrets like a champ, but told her own too fast. She expected the world not to cheat her and was always surprised when it did.

It was bewildering and humbling to keep discovering how many brave things people can fail to talk themselves out of doing.

I had no voice to talk with because she was my whole language.

'The Voice' has lots of singers who fit the 'Idol' mold of young, innocent ingenues with psycho stage moms. But it also has long-suffering adult pros, with a whiff of thirtysomething despair in their voices. That adds an edge of realness.