“I was so shy and so quiet, and the only time I had my own voice and I could really connect with people was when I was singing or on stage.”

Melody is the first thing that comes to me when I’m songwriting. I learned piano classically first, and then I went into soul, and so melody has always been the first. It’s so important.

I couldn’t help but feel very different from everybody, so I think that’s why I found such a big world in music, and that’s why I kind of – I was an introvert as a kid, but I loved the piano, and that’s where I felt at home.

From when I was a kid I wanted to write. It was so important to me that I was writing my own material.

People that come to my shows are definitely people that feel outsiders. They feel like I don’t feel sexy, I don’t feel like – I can’t go out every night on Friday and I can’t connect to that, and I feel so much pressure to do that.

I feel like ‘Next To Me’ is a great introduction because it’s a simple song that has a simple message for me. I wanted to introduce something that lyrically I’m proud of and introduces me both as an artist and as a writer.

Any song I have to work on longer than a day, I just leave it. It’s not gonna work. Everything that’s good is really instant.

I try to speak of a love that not necessarily romantic. I think there is so much love between people and so much love people want to give but it’s harder and harder these days to show that, to celebrate that, you know?

I wanted to make an album that melodically people can connect to; something that reflects our times and the kinds of difficulties we face.

I tried to bang down a lot of doors but Virgin were the only label who believed in what I was doing. I ended up with the label that understood what I was trying to do.

The focus is on singer/songwriters now rather than huge shows. I mean, of course there’s always a place for that too.

I mean, there’ll always be room for big productions and everything but it’s good to see the other side.

Anytime I write something that’s trying to be too smart, it doesn’t work.

I always knew I wanted to be a musician, and I always knew I wanted to write, ’cause the people I was listening to all wrote. I never thought it was an option to sing anyone else’s songs.

I’m not too bothered about what category my music goes in and there’s no point in limiting in who you can reach, but I want it to be respected.

It would be sad if we lost our instinct and our courage to love and protect.

Songwriting is my main thing. I know that I’ll do that for the rest of my life.

The hallmark of secure attachment is being able to remain connected to yourself while also being connected to others.

We have never been so connected but still feeling so alone.

There is an essential connection between experiencing God, loving God, and trusting God. You will trust God only as much as you love him. And you will love him to the extent you have touched him, rather that he has touched you.

The brands that can connect with client in a real way will win.

I like the connection with fans and people who have been supportive of me. And I love the idea of real feedback and a two-way street, which is very, very modern.

It is our nature to defy gravity, to transcend the limitations of the reasoning mind and connect with the realm of the mystical truth.

There are no random acts, We are all connected. You can no more separate one life from another than you can separate a breeze from the wind.

Heartbreak does not have to be a meaningless experience. For many, it is a spiritual catalyst – a pathway to awakening to ones deepest desires for love, purpose and connection.