Alanis Morissette

I want to walk through life instead of being dragged through it.

What I have to say is far more important than how long my eyelashes are.

I grew up in a very masculine environment. So I was around a lot of men, my brothers and their friends. There was just a lot of guys around.

What I try to keep in mind is that there are going to be a lot of articles that are going to be misrepresentative of what I’m about as a person and as a writer.

I love songs that are very autobiographical.

Well, as a kid I did not get Shakespeare. I just never understood it.

I am a writer – that is what I am before being a performer or musician. I love waking up in the morning and then going to sleep that night with something that did not exist.

I think the idea is now for blacks to write about the history of our music. It’s time for that, because whites have been doing it all the time. It’s time for us to do it ourselves and tell it like it is.

If you want to be a musician, study your craft. Study music.

If you like an instrument that sings, play the saxophone. At its best it’s like the human voice

If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it ‘Chuck Berry’.

Jazz music is a special skill that has brought pleasure to millions throughout the world.

Trios offer simple instrumentation, but the orchestral possibilities are so profound.

If you listen to Donny Hathaway, he had a lot of jazz elements in the way he sang, … For me, the two styles borrow from each other so much that sometimes it’s hard for me to make a distinction. When you hear Lalah sing the combination, that’s when she really shines – when she’s allowed to dip into her jazz when she wants to and then get soulful and do the R ‘n’ B thing.

Music is the shorthand of emotion

When you listen to someone improvise, the notes that are played are only half the story.

I’ve seen myself on those lists of the 100 best guitarists, and if they think that I’m that good, thank them. Thank God for them. But I don’t think so.

Practice 15 or 20 years and then it comes out spontaneously.

Our music artistry should not be disconnected from our lives or ourselves.

Music to me is like breathing. I don’t get tired of breathing, I don’t get tired of music.

Forgive me if I don’t have the words. Maybe I can sing it and you’ll understand.