When I heard We Are the World do a techno version of one of my songs, I didn't know the word techno, but I said, That percussion is astounding, will you help me do a piece? Nobody said, Techno isn't allowed for you.

I just remember there was one rule: If you've got faults, we expect you to be working on it. And we are here for you. People would welcome each other then. We don't do that anymore. We don't care.

I love to work with Julia [Holter] because our voices have a similar timbre, and she's very unique. She finds very avant-garde harmonies that I adore.

If you do nursing or that type of work long enough, you become a healer in your own thoughts. You're cycling love, so you can stay a little more sane in the midst of it.

Unfortunately, I did not feel ready at 27. I felt that that world was too big for me and I might make some total mistakes. I was a little afraid of going on the road. When you're that age, there are so many handsome men around, and for me, love is first. That shallowness had already knocked me really bad, and I didn't need any more of that.

Love was really a high priority. You could drive up this road and there'd be open doors. You could actually walk in as a stranger and they'd invite you for a meal.