Vonda Shepard

“I love pop music, but I don't want to be Celine Dion.”

“I had a very artistic bohemian childhood. My father was an actor and a mime.”

“I do a lot of touring, yes, and I have my whole life ever since I was 19 years old, when I used to tour with Al Jarreau, Rickie Lee Jones, and Jackson Browne as a side musician.”

“The two together are a really great combo: the family life and then being able to go play some shows and write.”

“At first, I wanted to start my own label, but it was such a full-time job that it became too much.”

“The last thing I wanted was a big paycheck but no inspiration or support.”

“I just kept making records, touring in Europe a lot, and then I had a baby in 2006, so my life has been very, very much family-orientated.”

“I would advise anyone starting out as a singer/songwriter to play live as much possible. You never know who might be in the audience.”

“Success was overnight, but it was a very long night.”

“For me, if 'Maryland' became half of what 'Searchin' My Soul' became, as far as radio play goes, I would be thrilled.”

“I don't have much time for TV shows, but if I did, I'd watch 'Seinfeld' reruns.”

“I spend a lot of time working in the studio as a producer, not just a singer.”

“Starting young has definitely helped my success. All the experience I gained by touring with other players as a backing artist helped to prepare me for my own big break.”

“I always give the audience a variety because I want to make sure they hear the favorites and all that.”

“My mom always wanted to go to Maryland to live there. Baltimore, actually. She had a best friend who lived there. She kept saying that she was going to move there and make that her home, but she only made it halfway across the country and got stuck in Iowa.”

“I've been through the entire gamut of the music industry - I've been playing in clubs since I was 14, and I've been on Warner Bros, on Sony - I've had lots of successes and some serious times of struggle.”