I do love dance music. I love Daft Punk. I mean, I was a child in the '80s, so bands like the Eurythmics and just so many great '80s bands were dance bands, but they had the whole soul thing happening, too.
It's great for my daughter to see Beyonce and Taylor Swift, women that are in charge of their own careers, writing songs from their own perspective and taking people to task. That's very different from when I was growing up - it was all like, 'Stand by your man.'
Aretha Franklin, she's just the most amazing singer ever. But I think there are so many singers that I just loved and sang along to on the radio. I guess I just enjoy trying out different styles along the way.
I try to relish each of the roles I play in life. If I'm cooking dinner for the kids, I throw on my polka-dotted apron. I might don a smart blazer if I am doing a work presentation. If I play a rock show, there may indeed be glitter and fishnets involved. It's my way of saying, 'Thank you, I am glad to be here.'
I feel really lucky. My fans are incredibly loyal. They encourage me to keep going. I feel more torn, trying to fulfill what my kids need. It's really huge. They're doing so well.
I feel really privileged that I've been able to be an activist and a musician for over 20 years now, and I've always been able to say whatever I want. I think that's something we Americans really take for granted, but it's a big deal, and it's not something most people in the world are able to do.
There are so many times that, as a woman in the music industry, you're asked questions no male musician would ever be asked.
I do think we have a long way to go in terms of the culture around women still being career women, and asking a woman about her career and her work, just seeing them as fully validated human beings in the workplace.
When I started playing music, it was all face-to-face.
The eighties were my teen years, so the GoGos are sort of a touchstone.
I think 'Amazing Race' is sometimes like being on tour.
The first show I ever played was the International Pop Underground Convention in Olympia, Washington. It was girl night, and I was in Heavens To Betsy. I had just turned 18.
I think having musical training as a child was really, really important. I studied piano as a child. Piano is a great instrument to understand musical theory on. I think I have that in my brain somewhere.
I've always been a writer who does simplistic, simple melodies. But I think it works.
I was a really big R.E.M. fan when I was like, in my freshman year of high school. I was a huge R.E.M. fan.
I'm pretty straightforward as a performer, but I do have a bit of a diva in me.
Twenty years later, twenty years after I joined the women's movement, we're still talking about the same issues. We're still talking about reproductive rights for women, and we're still talking about getting equal pay for women. And that's just frustrating.
I think Pussy Riot is amazing. I'm honored that they were inspired by riot grrl, and obviously they're making history around the world.
I think that, by and large, the predominant voice we hear in rock music is a white male voice.
I think there's a huge lack of political artists in America, and I think it really speaks to our consumeristic culture and how people are driven to be financially successful here. It's such a shame that we don't have people who are more inspired than that.
