Life can be either of two things: What it makes of you or what you make of it.

I've said very openly that the first aspect of my artistry to arrive was writing. It took me a good number of years to find my voice.

With 'Fate's Right Hand,' I think I reached a level of completeness in forming and articulating ideas at around the same time I reached a place where I could match it with my singing voice. It was a kind of coming together.

As a songwriter, metaphor is instinctual.

I'm enough of a southeast Texas boy - there's enough white trash in my blood that when somebody gives me money to make a record, I feel like I have to please them instead of myself.

I have a history, and I am proud of my legacy as a songwriter, all of the songs that I've brought forth into our culture. I'm proud of that.

Adolescence in our culture for a young woman, for a girl, is a hard road.

I don't make music for the radio. And when I was being played on the radio a lot, I didn't.

I've had a nice career. I'm no David Bowie or Bruce Springsteen out there. I'm not an icon. I'm just a working artist.