I came out the box and for seven years I had a huge career. And then it's done, it's dumped. But I ain't gone, and I refuse to be gone.

My son always makes me feel vulnerable.

Did people think I sounded black? Totally, but that was a marketing tool as well, but also this is how I grew up and these are my influences.

My current mantra is that sometimes we need teachers in our lives. I never had that in my life, parents and stuff like that; I tried to stay on the outside of them or anybody that had that kind of influence.

Love the woods and nature and the water and animals. Stop the BS with poaching and hunting. Preservation is critical.

I smoked some pot as a kid, but I just never did drugs.

But once you strip that down, you realize it's all about a voice, like a Norah Jones - that's inspiring to me.