Quotes from Grace VanderWaal

I think everyone has music inside them, and my hope is that I can help them find it.

That's the amazing part of humans - it's so weird how one person can inspire.

When Ariana Grande was starting out, everyone was like, 'You're just like Mariah Carey!' She inspires me so much because she just kept going and made her own name, and no one even says that anymore.

Whenever I'm traveling, it's a switch of, like, adult, mature Grace VanderWaal answering questions. Sometimes it's hard to get that balance of old, normal me as well.

The world is so big, and there's so many people, and there's only one you, and that's so special and unique to think about.

I think you need to figure out your balance. 'Cause if you think too much about that there's people around and - and how you're singing and looking and performing, I think that it won't be a good performance. Then, on the other hand, you can't just be in your own world.

Always be kind, but kindness doesn't mean that you have to not say what you think.

Regular school is one bajillion times easier than online school. I want friends; I want a social life. I want that experience in my life.

Not so much the sound but as a person, I would say Katy Perry inspires me because you can always see that she's being true to herself. She focuses on her music and even turns down big producers. Her whole career and music is about her being herself. I want to be more like that.

I've become a ukulele hoarder.

I remember I asked my mom for a ukulele, and she said no because she thought I would never play it. So then I got my birthday money up, and I bought my own. It was the most rebellious thing I've ever done.

I would love to sit down and do only the ukulele with a very small crowd. I would also like to sing the super poppy songs and all the background stuff. I think both would be an interesting path.

What I think is cool about Fender, and what originally drew me to them, was the Fender electric guitar headstock, which I've never seen on another ukulele. I feel like a rock star when I'm tuning it.

I started writing once I got the ukulele.

A family friend was staying with us once and had brought over a ukulele. I just loved the way she played it. I saved up the money from my 11th birthday and went out and bought one for myself.

My advice for someone just learning the ukulele would be to have fun with it and not take anything too seriously. Some songs that I think are great for beginners would be, 'House of Gold,' 'Riptide,' and 'I Don't Know My Name.'

Growing up so close to New York City, I always loved going to the city, but I'd be disappointed because songs about New York always made it seem so magical and perfect, and when I was younger, I just thought it was busy and dirty.

Child stardom is a really hard thing. It can really lead to bad things, and I think a lot of people have gone through that.

I always want to stay true to who I am, and if people don't like that, then that's okay. I think fans appreciate when you're genuine and honest, and that's how I try to be through all of this.

The world is unpredictable.

The crowd really controls how I am onstage. One show, it might be a lot of young people, super-high-energy dancing. I mirror that. Other shows, it's much more calm.

I think there's a misconception about the industry, that you have to change who you are to look 'cool' in order to succeed, and that's just not true.

I've accomplished so much, have done so many projects, and have worked with such amazing people.

I want my music to evolve to become more me.