To me, a feminist belong in the same category as a humanist or an advocate for human rights. I don't see why someone who's a feminist should be thought of differently.

I was the oldest child, and both my parents worked, so I had a great deal of responsibility from a very young age.

Writing in other voices is almost Japanese in the sense that theres a certain formality there which allows me to sidestep the embarrassment of directly expressing to complete strangers the most intimate details of my life.

I like to write about things that are extreme in some form. I like to write about something I feel I have to write about.

I always thought that if I was popular I must be doing something wrong.

And I really wanted a driver's license. I was 43, had my learner's permit and had failed the test once already - but that was in Riverhead, on Long Island.

I think that if you have a strong narrative, if the idea of the song can be boiled down to the basics, it won't change that much.