I've Always Expressed Myself Best Through Writing.

Sometimes I've Gotten Photographs Back And People Have Literally Shaven Off Pieces Of Me, And I Tell Them To Put It Back.

My Mother Was Raised Very, Very Strict Catholic In The Midwest. There Was So Much Fear And Intimidation [in The Faith]. So, Growing Up, I Was Always Looking For My Connection. I've Found Myself Praying Before Meals, Before Bed; There's Always Been This Gratitude For Things That Are Bigger Than Me.

Early On In My Career, I Was More Closed Off In Every Way. I Thought I Was Protecting Myself; Instead, I Was Robbing Myself Of All I Could Learn And Experience.

Stevie Wonder's Records Introduced Me To '70s Soul When I Was 12 Or 13.

When I Was First Learning Songs, I'd Have A Favorite Song, And I'd Take The Chords And Twist Them Around. I'd Learn The Chords And Then Play Them Backward. That Was My First Experimenting With Writing A Song.