They're all personal and self-created challenges that I think I've overcome within myself. Being confident enough to get on stage and play, things like that.

The point is to raise your voice and be heard to God. You really are just celebrating being in the presence of other people that believe the same things you believe.

I try to write down every song that comes to me, even though I know that every song that comes to me isnt a song that I need to sing.

I met PJ Harvey when I was in England, and the first thing I want to do when I meet a songwriter I admire is to ask them how do they receive songs.

I've always kind of been in the middle of every room, trying to get people together, no matter what color they were.

I can't believe the ignorance there, so I don't allow it to affect my life, I don't allow it to come into my zone, and it's not in my world, really.

I feel a lot of cities are like, you go and you are trying to do your art, and there are so many other artists there who are so brilliant. And it's kind of like they stomp on the scene, and they are like, "You're not already Picasso? Get the hell out of here!" And Memphis is like, "Well, you'll get there one day!"