Quotes About Artistry

In my own career, I used to do a Sinatra medley in every show, or at least sing one of his songs.

I sing what I want to sing and, if in the middle of the show I feel like doing a Frank Sinatra song, I will, but for the most part my show is a country show.

Even though a lot of people have recorded 'Unchained Melody' - Elvis Presley, Roy Hamilton, Frank Sinatra, LeAnn Rimes, Diana Ross and the Supremes come to mind - I don't think I'd like to cut it in the studio. I've had plenty of opportunities to record songs from the Great American Songbook, but 'Unchained Melody' has never been one I've picked.

I never listen to 'Nevermind.' I haven't listened to it since we put it out. That says something.

Elton John is a huge influence and an artist I've listened to since I was a little girl.

I grew up playing music, ever since I was 10 years old.

When I write a book... it's the same essential approach to music as with books. It has to be something I want to hear or read. Hopefully the audience comes along, since that's the only way you can write righteously. I have to ask, 'What do I want to hear?' not 'What do people want to hear?'

The first time I recorded without Allen Toussaint, I wanted to do doo-wop. Everything I've done since then has got some kind of doo-wop essence in it.

As long as there are people trying to play music in a sincere way, there will be some jazz.

I think my least favourite thing to listen to is perfect songs, perfect performances. They don't feel human to me, and in that respect ,they lose any kind of sincerity. I don't know why. It's just my ears.

The only people who have doubts about the sincerity of my music are people who come to it relatively late, off the back of having seen me in a film. Acting is about being other people, and music is about being myself.

I think I'm good enough to play and sing.

If it's a good song and it fits me, that's what I'm going to do, I'm not out there trying to change the world. I'm just out there trying to sing country music the best way I can.

I'm not like a university-educated scholar. I just sing what I see.

I do music because I can just pick up my guitar and sing, and completely satisfy, instant gratification. I don't need a script, I don't people, I don't need anything, cameras, I just have myself and my guitar, or keyboard.

Listening to Nat Cole prompted me to sing sentimental songs with distinct diction.

I can sing other people's songs all day, but I'm ready for it to be my song.

I won't sing if I don't feel it, so there's always so much sadness and so much sentiment behind it all.

I loved 'Funny Lady' for whatever reason. People say they didn't know I could sing and dance. Well, nobody ever asks me - it's always, 'Punch this guy.'

Everything evolves. I'll always sing ranchera, but as an artist, you want to explore, to do the most that you can.

I wish Frank Sinatra would just shut up and sing.

I make sure I sing a cappella to let people know I can sing.

It's very natural for me to sing in English and have a tabla in an arrangement, to have hip-hop beats but sing in Tamil. It's very niche but I love doing it.

When I sing, I don't want them to see that my face is black. I don't want them to see that my face is white. I want them to see my soul. And that is colorless.