I listened to Billie Holiday a lot in order to learn to sing. She remains one of the extraordinary jazz singers. But my intent is to become my own vo…

- Madeleine Peyroux

My father had a varied ear, from Hank Williams to Ravel.

- Madeleine Peyroux

Second records aren't usually very good. Even Bob Dylan's was a bit disappointing.

- Madeleine Peyroux

I love playing to people and seeing them react.

- Madeleine Peyroux

I had my guitar and some talent so that I could make friends with intelligent people and could talk my way out of difficult situations.

- Madeleine Peyroux

I think I was probably an early teenager when I discovered Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey and a bunch of people that are on a long list of artists. They wer…

- Madeleine Peyroux

I was very lucky. Things happened, both bad and good, but I never got into real, deep trouble. But it wore me down. By the time I was 18, I was done.…

- Madeleine Peyroux

My parents were older than normal when they had me, and had been very into the politics of the 1960s, so I was brought up in that atmosphere.

- Madeleine Peyroux

I'm very conscious of developing my singing, technically and stylistically. I want it to become more individual, express more of me. That's my goal. …

- Madeleine Peyroux