I have to say, I'm sort of always obsessed with Norah Jones. I just love her voice, but I don't really have an album - I have a playlist.
My favourite singers are people like R. Kelly and people like that.
I'm a piano player. I never thought of myself as a singer, at all. I was always trying to sound like somebody else. I don't like my own voice, I like Ray Charles, Robert Plant, I like Joe Cocker, Rod Stewart, people that have an edge in their voice.
I've admired Alicia Keys since before I got into the music industry, just everything she represents as a female artist.
Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen. They're my biggest heroes. I love everything about Leonard Cohen: his lyrics and his voice. He seems like a really clever man, and Bob Dylan does as well. He's just really cool.
Working with Method Man was such an honor. I love his music even though I didn't grow up in his era.
There's been a lot of talk about Jack White wanting to work with me, and I've always admired him, and of course, he lives in Nashville, too.
I've had production offers with artists I really admire, and oftentimes that doesn't work out. Sometimes it does, but... For instance I was asked if I wanted to do a Talking Heads album back in the late '70s, early '80s, and I was already working on a different project and didn't have time, so I never got the opportunity to work with them.
I met PJ Harvey when I was in England, and the first thing I want to do when I meet a songwriter I admire is to ask them how do they receive songs.
I've been into 3IOB since 'Battle Cry Under a Winter's Sun.' I've wanted to work with them since.
When Slick Rick first hit the scene, I had to practice that British accent. There's no other storyteller like this man.
I love Tina Turner. I'm one of Tina Turner's biggest fans. Tina Turner was a big influence on me to become a singer. A role model and in a way she gave me back my confidence in choosing my material.
I really like Ed Sheeran.
I've always loved Jay-Z's music and loved what he's done.
Getting to do shows with Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban, and Sam Hunt is just awesome. It's so inspiring because I grew up such fans of Lady A and Keith, and to be able to sing my songs on the same stage as them and then stand side stage and watch them is just a really special thing.
Probably more than anybody else, I loved Nat 'King' Cole as a performer - not only his singing but his piano playing. Whenever he had a new record come out, I'd get it and try to learn how he was playing. And he was one of the nicest people I'd ever met.
My city love me like Mac Dre in the Bay
I would love to sing with Christina [Aguilera]... she has so much talent... she has an amazing voice.
My favorite singer is Lauryn Hill - all time, hands down. She was my biggest inspiration growing up.
I love a lot of the '70s musicians, like Bonnie Raitt. And I love Sheryl Crow. But probably my favorite musician is a woman by the name of Schuyler Fisk.
I looked up to Too Short before I was making my own music.
I didn't look up to only pop stars, but I did look up to Adele, Amy Winehouse, Grimes, Robyn, Joni Mitchell, Norah Jones, M.I.A., Coldplay, Keane, and more.
To have John Mellencamp compliment my songwriting? That was unreal.
I have a lot of artists who I just love to hear their music, and I'm a fan of them.
Bob Dylan - I will listen to any of his songs over and over.
