There are so many people that don’t believe in themselves and don’t have faith.
I don’t play the tuba.
Jimi Hendrix was just so fluid. His hands were connected to his soul, you know? His playing was just so emotional. You could feel the fire, you could feel the blues. You could feel the sadness. It’s unbelievable.
I want to get away, I want to fly away. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
It’s a trip to have a Greatest Hits record. It’s a trip.
I don’t think about the styles. I write whatever comes out and I use whatever kind of instrumentation works for those songs.
A lot of people don’t listen to the lyrics, really.
I’m sure great scripts are hard to find, but I’m definitely open, and waiting to see what comes my way.
The loyalty rate isn’t that high. I could have a big hit, then put out the next single, and they say, Oh yeah, who are you? Prove it again.
My first guitar, a Fender Jazz Master, I traded it in for a Les Paul Deluxe.
You’re never promised your next breath.
What motivates it is life. Life is everything. Life influences my music and brings it forth. Life is always changing, so I’m always hearing new music.
If I had to associate myself with one song, it would probably be Let Love Rule. It’s so simple and to the point. It speaks for itself.
The thing I love about acting is that it’s got nothing to do with me; it’s about bringing forth a director’s vision. It’s like a release. I’m glad it’s come back into my life.
I knew what I wanted to do from the time I was 5.
I think kids in Europe have developed a deeper knowledge of music and of black music in particular. You go to Europe, and these kids know about all this obscure funk and soul that kids over here wouldn’t know. I think it’s getting better in the States, though, with the age of the Internet.
A dramatic thing, the first time you stand up to your dad.
Race in this country is still the elephant in the room that no one wants to discuss.
I’ve had to work very hard, and I don’t really have a category or fit into any niche, so each time I come out with a new record, it’s like, I’m a new guy.
I fell in love with Paris the first time I went.