K. D. Lang

Spend time reflecting on your emotional and physical existence and how that applies to the voice. You have to apply that wisdom and experience when you sing - it's what comes through.

We're in a period where society seems very attracted to flash, and that seeps into people's musical taste.

I mean, I am fully aware of my influence and my responsibility to society in general representing the gay community. But in the same time, I don't represent the entire gay community because it's a vast, vast community, as one can imagine.

When women make their image about youth and sexuality, and not about intellect, that's kind of a dead-end road. So I think it's a combination of self-entrapment and entrapment by society.

Heartache is very fertile ground for song-making but so is happiness, so is absolute bliss.

I think masculinity is bravado against the mystery of the universe of women. It's just a fear of not knowing what women have that's so powerful. It's this shield they put up to try to get closer.

My public image is so low-key, but I get to travel the world and still have an audience and it's really amazing. I don't take that for granted.

You have to respect your audience. Without them, you're essentially standing alone, singing to yourself.

Life is so impermanent that it's not about somebody else or things around me, it's about knowing you are completely alone in this world and being content inside.