I wanted to give people a taste of my own music through the sound and style of my covers.

The things I see every day inspire my sound and lyrics, like certain people and situations that stick out in my mind. There are also certain musicians I love whose music and styles inspire me.

. . . . I cannot escape my life but can only use my determination and courage to make it the best I can.

It's just me and I try to be myself when I'm singing.

I think it was when I was 12 when I entered a singing competition. I sang my own original song for an audience of 1,000 people.

I get really nervous right before I go on stage. But once I'm performing, I always love it. It's like being in a different world.

My town's quite small and you kinda recognize everyone when you see them, so I definitely get funny looks from people.

I read the three Hunger Games books in a week and because I liked them so much I wrote Just a Game.

I used to play violin, but I wasn't very good! I'm starting to learn guitar.

I've never spoken to Bon Iver, but I would love to. I'm a huge fan!

I love Adele and Lykke Li. I also listen to classical music as well.

If our church is not marked by caring for the poor, the oppressed, the hungry, we are guilty of heresy.

Every day of life is a gift! Be sure to... unwrap it. Play with it. And, most importantly, give thanks for it!

Hostility and hatred are no match for justice; they offer no pathway to peace.

Why do you have to choose what type of woman you are? Why do you have to label yourself anything?

New Yorkers like to boast that if you can survive in New York, you can survive anywhere. But if you can survive anywhere, why live in New York?

Man, at least when educated, is a pessimist. He believes it safer not to reflect on his achievements; Jove is known to strike such people down.

You pout like a trout in a drought...can't get out. You want to scream, but fish can't shout.

Sometimes in tragedy we find our life's purpose - the eye sheds a tear to find its focus.

We don't often have the luxury of time [in Steve Jobs movie ]to have these conversations where you just literally get to sit around for day and days and analyze every line of dialogue.

I'd like to be my old self again but I'm still trying to find it