If my life was a song the title would be 'Naima'.

It's believing you can push through the exhaustion just to be able to sing after you do a cartwheel or a split.

I prefer to sing in the shower because the acoustics make you sound great, baby.

I cried when I found out I was a finalist, I kind of went limp when they called my name. I felt like my spirit jumped out of my body, and I was just flesh - it was just amazing.

The live setting is always better for me. I usually thrive at live. I feel like having a band behind me and being able to interact with the crowd helps boost my energy up.

Always stay true to yourselves.

I've been doing African dance all my life.

I wouldn't mind doing Broadway, but I am definitely trying to get a album out there first.

I couldn't imagine having to write a paper and have to think about what song I am going to sing.

Light existed all along. Of course it did. Who says it didn't because I couldn't see it?

You were not put on this earth just to get in touch with God.

Ironically, we often fail to see that whenever we compromise ourselves to please others, we tend to lose their respect.

I'm very drawn to Eastern Europe, so I like a Hungarian writer who wrote in French called Emil Cioran; he was always good for giving me such a stir.

You can make the future, but it starts with leaving the past.

It is the public scandal that offends; to sin in secret is no sin at all.

You are not free until your past has no effect on your future

Truth, which is simple and one, admits of no variety.

A lot of those little things that I really like doing are just moments of cool articulation, just little moments of phrasing that probably go over everybody's head.

Q: Why do I love thee, O Night? A: Because you know I will never answer.