Liz Phair

I was trying to break out of the suburbs, and when I did break out, I don't think I took my whole self with me - I think I played a role of being too cool and hip.

I'm always champing at the bit to try everything new. It's a terrible quality that I have.

I have that thrill-seeking mentality, so when people want to know why my incarnations keep changing, or why I'll do something different than I did before, it's that same impulse.

I am comfortable performing now. I love it!

Young kids don't have their identity, so everything is so important. Now I'm mature. I know who I am and I know what my thing is and I know what I'm bringing. It's very clear and defined.

Everyone wants to get into soundtracks. Everyone wants to do songs here and there. But, I think they want it for different reasons. I think I'm just tumbling through my life, enjoying playing with everybody.

I remember even getting kicked out of a bar once because I was too loud and obnoxious.

Everything that people lob at you who don't know you, it all hurts. When you're doing something as simple as making music, which really, theoretically, shouldn't hurt anyone - I mean, it's a song! Step back for five seconds and laugh.

It's important to have people who will say to you that you're really off the beaten track.

You know, you become an artist, you become an observer, of life, and you digest life by making art about it.

After my first record came out, I read everything. I was so amazed that I was in the press.

I prance around and dance by myself to hip-hop songs in the mirror.

I was raised to be a very intelligent housewife.

It was a source of shame for my family that I was in rock and roll, which is so blue-collar. It just isn't done. And I felt it, too.

My nails are a disaster. If I play guitar when my nails are long, I just tear them off.

I don't know what the future holds. Anything is possible.

I just want to make music and make a living. I just have to find the means of doing that.

You have to do what you need to do as an artist. You have to have that courage.

I don't think you can spend too much time as an artist believing what other people think.

I have my head screwed on right. I haven't been this way in a long time.