Being uncool is being pretty much the coolest you can be.

And you will believe in love And all that it's supposed to be But just until the fish start to smell And you're struck down by a hammer.

Why be in music, why write songs, if you can't use them to explore life or an idealized vision of life?

I wish I could just relax sometimes and make some money, but I always feel like I have to prove some kind of big, profound point.

For better or worse, I've always been curious musically. Whether it's opera or Judy Garland or pop, I've deliberately sought those things out. I've never wanted to do the same things over and over. Some think I've accomplished what I set out to do, and others consider me a dilettante.

The artist who gave me the most inspiration and direction, especially as a singer - and I absolutely consider myself a singer, 100 percent - is Nina Simone. She's my ultimate pianist-singer-type person.

Growing up, for years and years I had no idea what the plots of operas were, and that's part of what fascinated me - I could make them up and learn bits and pieces of what was going on over time. There's something about it being always a step away that makes it more fun to chase.