Get to know the real you, rather than try to look like or dress like those around you.

Use the creative process - singing, writing, art, dance, whatever - to get to know yourself better.

I just always want a new producer. I'm going to have a new producer on the next one. Because I'm the same person, and I feel like, I know I'm going to bring to it a certain sensibility that's me, and I want to have something different coming out on each album.

When you do have songs where you're going to say something, some kind of statement about cultural or social stuff, that in general people love it. People love to be challenged in that way.

I try to get closer to reality, to get close to the contradictions. The cinema world can be a real world rather than a dream world.

[I want to convey] that there is hope?that we're a world that is in turmoil but there is hope. I'm always amazed at how much love is in people's hearts even when they disagree about things. I think it's important for people to come together in music. It reminds me of the [Margaret Mead] saying, 'Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world.' I think that's really true.