Rokia Traore Quotes

When I recorded my first album, my ego didn't let me believe that what I was gonna say on the mic, anyone would really care about. But then when I found out that they did, I started to take it more seriously.

Even in the early stages, you can tell who thinks you're an idiot singing songs someone else has written for you. We never wanted to be two producers and a girl who wears some shoes.

The performing part of it, that's what I live for. I've always told people that's what I was born for. I believe, with the proper things around me, and everything I need as a performer; band, and all that kind of stuff, I still feel to this day there's no one that can touch me. Still.

I never dreamed of dancing on television or anything like that. It's more of things that come along that excite me and inspire me.

I feel energized walking off stage.

To me, the stand up part in my life is great. I know I can do that. When I get an acting chance, I'm really thrilled.

I am blessed to perform in the studio and on the concert stage.

My favorite on screen moments are when you are really there and you know you're creating something. That's so exciting... it's why you come to work.

I knew, regardless of anything else, singing in front of an orchestra was going to be inspirational. It would feed me.

People know who I am now and what I can do, and it's all thanks to 'AGT'. It was never about winning for me. I just love to perform, and that's it really.

Every time I go out to do shows, it just becomes a little bit more real and a little bit more full, so I'm excited just to see it hit its next level.

Having a hit is fine, but doing the work is what I want. I get more excited the day of creation than once it's big.

I get the most starstruck around musicians. I get tongue-tied and don't know what to say. I'm so jealous of them. When you make a movie, you're constructing something - it's a little bit like making an album. But after musicians make an album, they get to perform it live and experience it in front of a crowd.

My great love is the stage because I do feel like it's the place where, if you're lucky and everything is firing in the right way, you have the greatest shot at being successful. I don't mean by getting great reviews, but I mean by finding the core fo the person that you're playing.

All I know is that the six months when I recorded this music was the most productive time of my life, and I'll always remember it as the first time in my life that I ever felt like I was one with my dreams.

My boyfriend's a musician, and I think when he's on stage is the only time he's not worrying. And so that's the reason he keeps doing it is because it gives him that sort of experience of weightlessness that I only get out of being sort of, deep into writing something or really lost in a moment on set, like it's available to me in these select moments through my work.

When you look into the eyes of your people out there that came to see you, that's when it's like, 'Yep, this is what it's all about.' This is why we don't sleep, and this is why we write songs and try to be the best. This moment right here onstage.

I love singing and I love performing and just making things perfect.

It's thrilling to be onstage and to not know, literally, what the next moment is going to bring. To just submit to the not-knowing-ness of it.

My participation in the Art of the Olympians is a natural extension of my athletic career. I find creating a piece of art in many respects mirrors my long jumping efforts illustrating that hard work and inspiration will always be the foundation for success.

Some artists are working to buy the mansion or whatever the element of fame must bear, but I spend all my money on my show.

All you have to do is put me in front of the people and put the beat in front of me, and the rest is history.

I really enjoy singing, it's entirely different to acting because I'm just being myself.

When I walk out on that stage, I just want America to know, that this is what I'm supposed to do. This is my dream.

There are a lot of things that make up a performance, a lot of technical things. It isn't always just about pulling it up from the darkest recesses of your mind or your heart. It's your experience and your observation.