My father was a jazz tenor sax player. He played in a lot of big bands. So I had that sound around me all the time. The first record that really caught my ear was Clifford Brown’s ‘Brownie Eyes.’ I grew up listening to John Coltrane and Illinois Jacquet. This is where I come from… I love improvisational music. Meshell Ndegeocello Read Quote
I’m a true believer that unless you’re Prince or Stevie Wonder – and even Prince is showing that he needs help – not everybody can produce themselves. I’m definitely not that person. Meshell Ndegeocello Read Quote
I love children. I’d prefer to be around children much more than adults, actually. And I like animals, too. I’m just really into beings who are at ease with themselves. Meshell Ndegeocello Read Quote
Children are born with their own optimism. They have a clarity and a simplicity that we can only wish for. Meshell Ndegeocello Read Quote
Music is my only guide. I don’t care if people pigeonhole me. Miles Davis is my hero. He covered Cindy Lauper and Michael Jackson, and he didn’t give a hoot about what the purists said. Meshell Ndegeocello Read Quote
I’m always tryin’ to do something new, tryin’ to look like a beginner. Meshell Ndegeocello Read Quote
I stopped beating up on myself. I stopped asking myself why I didn’t sell this number of records, why I don’t have corporate sponsorship. I just don’t buy into any of that anymore. Meshell Ndegeocello Read Quote
Any ideas of ‘other’ are complicated, and otherness is relative to personal ideas of ‘normal.’ Meshell Ndegeocello Read Quote
I find myself wanting to make music at the dining room table or in the bedroom – I’m kind of a mobile writer, so I sort of move around the house. But the attic is definitely where I can make the most noise. While everyone on the lower floors screams ‘Earthquake!’ But no! It’s just my bass! Meshell Ndegeocello Read Quote
I’m becoming more and more apolitical – I think the most revolutionary thing you can do is just live your life and have a good time. Before they scoop you up on the street or you die. Meshell Ndegeocello Read Quote
