Any decision I make is based on myself, and the only person I have to give an explanation to is God.

My parents only played Isley Brothers, Marvin Gaye. That's when New Kids came out, and we wanted to jam that. My mom was like, "Put that thing off and put my damn record on". So from old school to '90s to recent, it's just always been there.

I have been writing songs since I was 9 years old, so writing has and always will be my first love and passion.

It is always an honor to work with those that share your passion for music and just enjoy making great music.

I've also learned to only write songs and melodies that really work for my voice and that I won't have issues doing live. Because you can get really, really comfortable in the comping process: out of five takes, maybe one of those high notes that you struggled to do, nailed it, and then live you're having that challenge of really having to recreate that.

I think many people, especially from other cultures, just don't understand the role hair plays in Black women's lives.

There were things that had been weighing heavy on me for quite some time. And I went into this hole, trying to work through some of these things so that I could be a better me and be a better mom to Julez and be a better wife and a better friend and a better sister.