I think Labrinth is an amazing writer and an amazing singer. His voice is just so magnetic. There are so many people that I would work with inside and outside of pop.

I like the fact that I have the power to convey a lot of emotion through my songs. I like to channel that when I'm singing. I think it's just a mix of R&B, soul, but then I kind of move more into the pop world and electronic pop and stuff like that.

I performed in Redlands, Calif., at Splash Kingdom. It reminded me of the water parks I went to as a kid. I was like, 'I want to ride the rides!'

I love New Orleans. I love jazz. I grew up practicing jazz piano, and that's just been such a cool genre to me. There's a lot of talent there.

The 'Chainsmokers' found me early on, before anyone knew about 'Hide Away,' and reached out. I heard the demo for 'Don't Let Me Down' and loved it.

If I'm going to release anything into the world, I want it to have a positive message. So I think that 'Sit Still, Look Pretty' and 'Hide Away' were two upbeat pieces, and their messages really uplift me the most.

I remember looking out into the sea of phone lights as Chris Martin belted 'Yellow' on the piano and deciding that that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

I will wear makeup because I want to look good for myself, but it's not to please other people. It's not so I fit in with the pretty girls or to impress guys.

Believe in yourself, go after your dreams, and don't let anyone put you in a box.

Stay humble, be fearless, and work, work, work, work, work, work.

I got in the audition line called 'Making the Band' because I wanted to be in a band. If I didn't, I would have done 'American Idol.'

Everyone who knows Puff knows Puff rolls with himself. His hustle is money. That's what he does.

The problem with Danity Kane is everybody wanted to play everybody's role, and when you're in a group like that, that can't survive.

R&B needs to see a new light. It doesn't have to be pigeonholed.

When you see what you really are, good or bad, there is a fearlessness to understanding your purpose.

My uncle is in the hall of fame for creating by hand some of the most intricate Indian Mardi Gras garb.

There's a fine line between artist and product. I don't think the industry purposely does it, but I think that's just the way they maneuver. You have to be careful that doesn't become your story, where you become a product, and your art is tarnished because you're just seen as a tool to make money.

I connect so much with Peter Gabriel's sound because, to me, he always had that South African vibe. His drums were always something to move to: it was almost like Calypso. I'm a big fan.

I come from an era where lyrics were full of imagery and metaphor, and that's all I know. I think people miss that.

I'm big on showing people versatility. I'm constantly trying to push myself to break barriers and the idea that we have to stay in one lane.

There's definitely that tribal Africana thing going on in my sound. It's that marching band, second-line music, that Creole-influence in the kick, and the snare that drives everything for me. I think it's really what's separated my sound from a lot of the R&B and pop music out there.

'Blackheart' was the moment for me to really open up and let people into the world that is me.

I want to show that you can be just as amazing as labels and compete as a business and work as a business even though you're an artist.

It doesn't bother me when I'm labeled, but it's so... limiting. It's so boxy.