People expect me to be dark and gloomy then write that I'm a jolly chap and after all that is what I am. I think it's a case of an absolute romantic naivety that there should be a parallel between the work and the artist.

I want to be remembered as somebody that tried to respect her integrity as an artist and as a person. And I don't want to be in any box. I don't want to be one thing.

Someone's career that I admire would have to be Justin Timberlake's because he started off on Disney and he made this huge film career and huge solo music career. I really respect him as an artist.

There are forms of art that I might not like to do myself but I still have respect for the artists who create it.

I think it's important for artists to work together. It's great for fans to see like Ludacris came out to our show in Atlanta and kinda made a surprise appearance there it shows a mutual respect for what each other does.

I respect country music because I feel like it's more about the talent and the songwriting and I put on a big show and we have a lot of stuff but I feel confident in myself enough as an artist and a singer that I can have all of those fun toys and know that we don't need all the bells and whistles either.

After reading Eminem's autobiography which I did because I'm so interested in him as an artist I respect him a lot. Even though he seems angry and mad he's had to fight so many demons in his life.

I'm not gonna say that I hate it because I really respect Usher and I was influenced by him. But so many people compare me to him and I don't think it'll ever stop. I just want to be my own artist.

A great chef is an artist that I truly respect.

I like messing around and I like working with artists who I respect.

All men are somewhat ridiculous and grotesque just because they are men and in this respect artists might well be regarded as man multiplied by two. So it is was and shall be.

The artist himself may not think he is religious but if he is sincere his sincerity in itself is religion.

My political ideas and things like that even my religion I try to keep close to me because it's a personal thing and I don't shove it down people's throats. I don't condemn any artist that wants to do that like the Baldwins. That's their choice. But in my world I'm just an entertainer.

Too many younger artists critics and curators are fetishizing the sixties transforming the period into a deformed cult a fantasy religion a hip brand and a crippling disease.

Favored Nations is a long-term commitment. Our hope is that those who are passionate about real musicianship will want to hear and own most of our albums. We will set out to attain the same direct relationship with our customers that we have with our artists.

The relationship between the public and the artist is complex and difficult to explain. There is a fine line between using this critical energy creatively and pandering to it.

You have a strange relationship with calamity when you're a writer: you write about it as an artist you objectify and fetishize it. You render life into material and that's a creepy thing to do.