“What influenced me was Tori Amos, who was unapologetic about expressing anger through music, and Sinead O'Connor. Those two in particular were really moving for me, and very inspiring, before I wrote 'Jagged Little Pill.'”
Anger“I'm clearly most well known for my music. Eventually, ultimately, I'll be writing books. I'm still writing articles now. I just consider myself a writer.”
Music“What influenced me was Tori Amos, who was unapologetic about expressing anger through music, and Sinead O'Connor. Those two in particular were really moving for me, and very inspiring, before I wrote 'Jagged Little Pill.'”
Anger“I see the whole concept of Generation X implies that everyone has lost hope.”
Hope“I'm doing it because I choose it. And if it's not working, I can make a change.”
Change“I didn't want to be one of those women who wake up at 63 years old and realize they've missed the window of opportunity for marriage and children.”
Marriage“When I'm off the road, my husband and I recharge our batteries. It's a day of deep rest and connection with the spiritual, and that can be anything - going for a walk in nature, being in silence, burning incense.”
Nature“If I could sell 500 million records every time, it would be great. But I've also had the luxury experience of having it when I was a teenager, in a very kind of model version of it.”
Experience“At some point, I would like to write a book and other things, but I work best when there is some sort of deadline in my own mind, but not when fifty people or fifty million people are breathing down the back of my neck.”
Best“We're taught to be ashamed of confusion, anger, fear and sadness, and to me they're of equal value to happiness, excitement and inspiration.”
Anger“I think it's child abuse to have someone in the public eye too young. Society basically values wealth and fame and power at the cost of well-being. In the case of a child, it's at the cost of someone's natural development. It's already hard enough to develop.”
Power“Ageism works in both directions. As a teenager in the public eye, people would talk condescendingly to me. When you get older there's this feeling that you have to start carving up your face and body. Right now I'm in the middle ground - I think women in their thirties are taken seriously.”
Women“As a teen, I was both anorexic and bulimic.”
Teen“And if I had a preference, it would be to be able to not be in the studio until 4 in the morning.”
Morning“I did commit to myself that I would not jump back into being the workaholic that I can be before I gave myself an honest opportunity to create the marriage of my dreams and to create the beginning of the family of my dreams, and that took a hot second.”
Dreams“Down the road, I'll probably have a kid or two or three. And there will probably be political events or spiritual things to comment on, and humor.”
Humor“I've been really enjoying writing articles and writing music and music for movies.”
Movies“We'll love you just the way you are if you're perfect.”
Funny“For four to six months at a time, I would barely eat. I lived on a diet of Melba toast, carrots, and black coffee.”
Diet“A good man often appears gauche simply because he does not take advantage of the myriad mean little chances of making himself look stylish. Preferring truth to form, he is not constantly at work upon the facade of his appearance.”
Good“I live with some of my best friends from high school, very commune-like, in my house. It's my hippie way of life.”
Best“My message to anyone who's afraid that they can't write music when they're happy is 'Just trust the passion.' The passion can write a lot of things.”
Music