Jillian Hervey

“Both of my mom's parents were music teachers, so I got a lot of knowledge about everything from classical music to jazz to musicals.”

“I kept extensions in until I finished high school. Although, once I got to college, that's when it all started to shift. I think it was just growing up and moving to New York, where I saw so many different people, vibes, and looks, and everyone really owned it. That led me to feel more free, take more risks, and go back into my natural hair.”

“When I first started singing - before 'Treat Me Like Fire' when I was working with a vocal coach - I realized that I wasn't even breathing when I was singing.”

“I went through so many phases when I was young - surfer girl, tom boy, punk - but they weren't mistakes, just moments.”

“As a young girl, I definitely struggled with knowing what to do with my hair. I was just in a neighborhood that had mostly white people, and the hair norm was long and sleek and straight. My hair naturally was curly, and I didn't have that many references.”

“I never walk into a room and say, 'Hi! I am Vanessa Williams' daughter.' It helps me to become more authentic.”

“I love looking back at my old pictures and pictures of my grandma and my mom and see how they expressed themselves at different parts of their lives, and it just tells an interesting story, so why not play around?”

“When I was younger, I thought that straight hair was, like, the only thing. So I was trying to be like Naomi Campbell or Tyra Banks. I didn't know that people would add hair for more length. I'm like, 'Oh all these people just have natural hair like this.' I obviously grew up and figured out that everyone does something to their hair.”

“For a long time, I thought of singing as my mom's thing. I loved it, but I thought of dance as my thing.”

“I don't think there's anything wrong with a little sweat. I'm always moving, so it's normal for me, and it actually makes my curly hair better because it gives it a bit more texture and volume.”

“One of my favorite things from my mom is a chocolate brown three-piece Chanel outfit. I had it tailored because she taught me the importance of fit.”

“I feel like my Lion Babe look is an embellishment of my everyday look - it's definitely more extravagant and more artistic.”

“With dancing, I think the reason it's worked for me, and I love it so much, is because I've trained my entire life. Once you train, you develop your own aesthetic and your confidence. So I think, as I grow, I'm learning how to be a singer. I'm training my voice and being on stage and singing and dancing.”

“For me, it's about being comfortable... but I can feel comfortable in a thong leotard and on stage. Growing up as a dancer, that's how I'm comfortable in my body. It's about where you grew up and those things; it's a way of communicating your spirit to the world.”

“The best thing we've learned is when you are attempting to write a full song, write a full song that day. When we first started, we would have great ideas, but there's something about a moment and a vibe that's being created in time that when you return to it, it sometimes works, and it sometimes doesn't.”

“When I first started Lion Babe, I wore a lot of denim to perform in because I had a limited closet. A lot of the time, I was in cutoff shorts - either dark or light denim - and then I would pair them with whatever top I had.”

“If I wash my hair in the morning, then I usually air-dry it. In warmer weather, if I walk my dog, by the time I am back in, it is usually nice and dry!”

“It was always important to me to be confident and strong with myself. It didn't happen overnight, but I've learned that the only way you can start to control things is if you feel a certain way about yourself.”

“I wasn't even singing when we first started Lion Babe, so my voice has only gotten stronger.”

“In the summer months, I like as little makeup as possible - I don't want to be too painted. I might put a little cover-up to smooth everything out.”