Andra Day

“The visuals are equally as important as the music. It's all a complete experience.”

“My idols are singers like Billie Holiday and Erykah Badu because there's no gloss on what they do.”

“I loved Lauryn Hill; I loved the Fugees.”

“My style icons are Lucille Ball for her bouffant hair and all the updos, James Dean for his rockabilly style - the denim and rolled-up T-shirt thing. And I am also inspired by Dita Von Teese and Gwen Stefani. Their style is retro, but it's still very feminine at the same time.”

“I get people today who say, 'I first heard about you through the Stevie Wonder commercial.' The power of advertising in that way is incredible.”

“If it looks like your grandma's bedsheets, I'll put it on my body.”

“I decided to see how my voice sounds on different type of records. So I did Eminem and the Biggie, Florence and the Machine, and Muse covers. A couple of them just came from some jam sessions between me and my sister in her bedroom at my father's house in San Diego.”

“I give credit to my team. I have dedicated people from my label, my fans, and people at these companies that believe in me.”

“My prayers are being answered for my career. These are prayers I've been praying for as a kid.”

“No matter how dark or precarious it may seem, continue to pursue your truth.”

“I'm very obsessed with pop culture of the mid-century and it goes hand-in-hand with the music that I studied in school.”

“I'm grateful and enjoying the ride.”

“When you walk in the front of the White House, the pictures on the walls, they change out pretty frequently. They're all very cool and historical, with pictures from the current term and past terms.”

“I think gratitude is a big thing. It puts you in a place where you're humble.”

“I'm grateful for the fans who've been there from the beginning and am excited about how we've grown and how we've evolved now.”

“I want people to know my truth. Unconditional love of God and each other.”

“I always knew I wanted to be a performance artist.”

“I search for items that have history, like vintage finds - I love fur kitten-heel house slippers from the 1950s - and pieces from fashion houses that have been around for a long time, like Chanel and Dior.”

“What I wear onstage is so stylized and bold.”

“The most amazing thing is being onstage and watching the audience sing every song lyric for lyric.”