India Arie Quotes

When you write, no matter what, it ends up personal.

I think my music is so personal that it lets people in. And they identify with me more because of that, you know, so it's like my story; it's who I am as a person.

I feel like my music at least allows me to release the other side of me, a more vulnerable and sensitive side.

I've talked with friends about this: when you write about yourself, that's what people connect to. When you write a sermon or a lesson, that may not reach people. I've learned a lot from people who have been writing about themselves.

I would describe my music as very honest. I just rap about myself, and not in a narcissistic way. I feel like I have a story to tell.

There's the dual challenge of wanting to speak from an authentic place, and then being able to be honest about it. Even in the most mannered art, I think that's what people value, is a voice that comes from a real place.

I feel like I really tapped into a pretty honest emotional place for myself as a lyricist. There's a broad spectrum of emotions.

I always write what feels really true and honest and me.

Worthy or not, my life is my subject, and my subject is my life.

If you're really being honest with yourself when you're acting, part of it is touching the real you. You can only separate yourself so much from the character. Those vulnerable moments do touch me.

A lot of people hurl themselves into relationships to lose themselves, but I think the best relationships help us to be more ourselves, to bring forth our best selves.

I've been telling my students, 'Imitate, imitate.' And they say, 'Well, what if I plagiarize, or what if I'm not original? I want to be myself.' And I always tell them, 'Your self will shine through'... If you allow yourself to feel deeply and honestly, what you say won't be like anyone else.

Painting is self-discovery. Every good artist paints what he is.

I've always written about things that cause me to feel something.

Really, as a writer, I believe that if you're going to write about your own life, you need to do it as honestly and candidly as you are capable.

The best writing really does come from the deepest, most private part of you.

The more you're writing absolutely honestly, and absolutely bare of intention - even if it feels absolutely personal and small because it's at your own scale - other people relate to it much more.

We are all just little dolls of ourselves. Who occasionally pull back the curtains to reveal the real us.

I think when you're telling a story from inside of you that's genuine, people connect with it.

I feel like my mission is to be honest with myself. My mission is to share my truth - share, not give. I think that's what an artist is supposed to do: I think they share.

I've never been interested or particularly good at censoring my experience.

More and more, people probably associate me in this world of comedy and these confident, brassy, big ladies, which I love, but my insides and who I feel like internally and the kind of work that I hope to continue doing feels very different from that.

I reveal all of myself. I bring all of myself to my roles. You only see me. You don't see anything else but me. That is who's there. They're manifestations of my own self.

I just know what I go through, and I know how to speak on it in an interesting way.

I want everyone who's listening to know who I am and not just see me as this singer. I want them to feel connected to my story.