There are only two types of people in the world. There are the people who understand that this is a matrix, and then there are the people who buy it lock, stock and barrel.

Doing drag in a male-dominant culture is an act of treason. It's the most punk-rock thing you can do.

I've lived my whole life in the life - I've lived my whole life doing the thing, I've been doing my own thing. And I think my life speaks volumes about what one must do.

Life is dangerous. There are no guarantees.

Unfortunately, in our culture, one person can write a letter to the network, and they shut something down. It's unfortunate.

Personally, I experience success when I enjoy what I'm doing. I love the creative process, even if the end result isn't embraced by anyone else.

All things to do with drag are inherently therapeutic because the realization of your own insanity is the beginning of sanity.

When I go out, I'm always dressed up. Not in drag but always prepared to be 'on.' Just in case somebody's going to take a picture. Everyone has a Facebook page, so no matter what, I'm prepared to service the public.

I have managed to eke out a good and substantial existence. I'm not shoveling gold bricks or anything, but I do very, very well.

I'm very fit on tour. I try to eat well, try to sleep. But it's still rock n' roll.

It seems like the older I get, the more unreal the world becomes.

Everything I do, I feel is genius. Whether it is or it isn't.

I have an ounce of Lady Gaga's full-bodied ambition.

I am ridiculously high-maintenance.

My mother had a lot of parties when I was a child. There'd always be a moment when she would place me on the upright piano and have me sing Somewhere 'Over the Rainbow'.

My love of maple syrup. I've been known to knock back a can over a couple days: A swig here, a swig there, and next thing you know it's gone. It's a habit I have to stave off. I don't want to lose all my teeth.

I think the minute you mention death, people run for the hills - unless it's heavy metal. People do not like death.

I was reared on folk music.

The artist who gave me the most inspiration and direction, especially as a singer - and I absolutely consider myself a singer, 100 percent - is Nina Simone. She's my ultimate pianist-singer-type person.

I'm hyper light-sensitive and must sleep in the equivalent of a sealed tomb.

I am regarded as a usurper, as an imposter and dilettante, because I do technically come from the wrong side of the tracks in musical terms.

Premiering a new opera is probably one of the hardest things in the world to do, and opening nights of any opera are always pretty stressful.

I love being not cool.

I've written songs for Shirley Bassey, Marianne Faithfull, and Linda Thompson. I sort of focus on these wonderful, aging divas. But maybe that's because I think I'm Christina Aguilera.