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Aretha Franklin, she's just the most amazing singer ever. But I think there are so many singers that I just loved and sang along to on the radio. I guess I just enjoy trying out different styles along the way.

I've been getting into different gospel artists; Aretha Franklin is someone I've been listening to a lot of.

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 had no desire to become a singer until I heard Billie Holiday. The first time I heard her on a record, it was a revelation. She sounded like a woman singing about herself.

I usually listen to various kind of singers. Curtis Mayfield was my favorite. James Brown, Tina Turner, queen of soul, I started to get that musical essence from that time before I even do my first song.

The voice of God, if you must know, is Aretha Franklin's.

Alanis Morissette - I love how she's not afraid to say what she wants to say. Love it or hate it, she's going to say it. And her vocals are crazy; they're amazing, and I also love how her music is really organic.

I don't know if I should say this, but I feel more like a singer than an artist.

I want to sing like Aretha Franklin. Before her I wanted the technical ability of Ella Fitzgerald.

I know I'm not going to sing like Aretha Franklin or Elvis Presley or any of those people.