The problem with music was always that the sound system often obliterated the words, and words, not music, have always been what I was about.
I knew I wanted to be an artist, but I never took music lessons. I was just playing around in front of the mirror and being silly, then suddenly I started making songs.
When I was very little, I was into Michael Jackson. At six or seven, it was Madonna, but she's not what she used to be. I've been into everything from Edith Piaf to Joe Strummer to the Velvet Underground to Suicide to A Tribe Called Quest to African ...
I'm interested in a lot of different sounds and types of music.
The music that I listen to is very minimalistic. I listen to a lot of old blues that is just guitar and vocals.
Where I've been hasn't influenced my music. It's more what I listen to. You can find music everywhere, so moving hasn't really influenced my music, more me as a person.
I don't feel like I'm on a mission. I'm trying to play music that I like to play and like to listen to.
My first performance was in second grade with my friend Rodney Fisher, and we worked up versions of 'Long Tall Texan' and 'I Want to Hold Your Hand.' It gave me a little early confidence that I could actually do this music thing.
My music has always been sort of in between categories. Sometimes record stores - back when there were record stores - they'd put my records in the country music section, but other record stores would put my records in the pop or even the rock sectio...
I'd like to make music for as long as I can; it feels like something I need to do.
Taxi drivers used to ask me what kind of music I did, and I'd say, 'Well, it's kind of jazz, soul, classical' - but that makes no sense to anyone.
I come from an African Caribbean background. I've been influenced by a reggae church music style, contemporary gospel, and rock all fused together.
I have a younger brother and sister who actually play in my band, and we were always into Disney music, big time. The first time I heard myself sing was when I recorded myself singing a Disney song. I remember it because it was awful, and I didn't ex...
My parents were quite strict; we couldn't just listen to whatever music we wanted. It was very much like they monitored what we listened to.
One of the things I haven't been ready for is how male-dominated the music industry is. I just didn't have a clue.
I always said when I was younger, I wanted to write film music, and I think that's what my ultimate dream is.
One cannot imagine Scots music and song without the contribution of Burns.
Corinne Bailey Rae I listen to a lot, and I'll hear Desert Island Discs and quickly write down the name of a song, and it will open up a new area of music for me. I discovered an Argentinian guitarist, Jose Luis Bieito, on Classic FM.
I had this exceptional classical music voice. If I'd followed a true path for my talent, I would have ended up being an opera singer.
I'm born to do music. I'm born to act. I'm born to dance and all of these things, and I will be respected.
Lauryn Hill might have cursed a couple of times in her music, and Missy Elliot definitely just doesn't care. I'm really more inspired by their creativity more so than just the cursing. I'm really impressed by clean music.
