Quotes from Vonda Shepard

I had a very artistic bohemian childhood. My father was an actor and a mime.

I don't have much time for TV shows, but if I did, I'd watch 'Seinfeld' reruns.

My advice is if you have to do music, then do it! There's no choice in your heart and your soul - unless you have that kind of great need, desire and determination, it's pretty tough out there!

Success was overnight, but it was a very long night.

I always give the audience a variety because I want to make sure they hear the favorites and all that.

My mom always wanted to go to Maryland to live there. Baltimore, actually. She had a best friend who lived there. She kept saying that she was going to move there and make that her home, but she only made it halfway across the country and got stuck in Iowa.

Although I don't come from a musical background, I was given piano lessons along with my sisters, but I wasn't what you would call a good student. I tended to write songs rather than do scales.

I would advise anyone starting out as a singer/songwriter to play live as much possible. You never know who might be in the audience.

Having drive is a big part of success, along with integrity. You need to have a clear vision of what you want and take the steps to achieve it, even if that sometimes means playing gigs in tiny clubs.