We're taught to be ashamed of confusion, anger, fear and sadness, and to me they're of equal value to happiness, excitement and inspiration.

There's a roller coaster of emotion. There is anger, and there's happiness, and there's sadness, and there's confusion. Above all, I'm confused.

For me, a life without expectation results in a life with inspiration.

I kissed you and I tasted anger, I tasted sadness, I tasted fear, yet I still felt happiness lingering in the corner of your lips.

What influenced me was Tori Amos, who was unapologetic about expressing anger through music, and Sinead O'Connor. Those two in particular were really moving for me, and very inspiring, before I wrote 'Jagged Little Pill.'

Canada has a passive-aggressive culture, with a lot of sarcasm and righteousness. That went with my weird messianic complex. The ego is a fascinating monster. I was taught from a young age that I had to serve, so that turned into me thinking I had to save the planet.