Esperanza Spalding

I grew up with an incredibly loving and supportive family that gave me the impression there were a lot of options for me out there. ”

My earliest attempts at writing were when I was seven. I would sit at the piano and transcribe the songs I heard on the radio. I'd change little things in the music and write different lyrics. ”

I am insubordinate by nature. I can't help it. ”

The benefit of the radio is, something beyond your realm of knowledge can surprise you, can enter your realm of knowledge. ”

I put my mother through a lot when I was a teenager. I used to lie a lot. Now, we talk all the time. ”

There's enough time in the day: If you go to bed at 10 and start your day at 6, there's a lot you can do in a day! ”

I don't watch TV, I don't spend time on the Internet, and I don't party much. I don't text very much, either. ”

When I was a kid, I was really curious about acting. And I was interested in movement and dance. I wasn't good at either of those things - I didn't work at those things. ”

There's a guy I used to pay to work with me who'd call me 'kiddo.' I said, 'There's nothing that justifies you expressing that to me, your boss.' ”

You don't have to be fearless to do anything; you can be scared out of your mind. I fear that I won't get better and that I won't have time to practice. To be called a 'jazz musician' - it's a big responsibility. ”