Knowing who you are is the key to success, yet managers tell me all the time that artists don’t really know who they are. What happens to artists when they don’t really know who they are? Somebody else starts to tell them who they are, which leads to feeling like an imposter.

Artists need to speak the language of each element. Use AUDIO to point to the sound you want, IMAGES for the look. I remember working with a major artist in Electric Lady Studios and they communicated the emotional feeling of their art through 3 huge storyboards in the green room. It was amazing!

Your style and expression is going to change throughout your life and career. You just need to be able to communicate the changes as you go!

I was working with an artist on tour. They're seasoned and have toured many times. They were so tired and said, "I want to quit."

I told them - I want you to start tonight's concert expressing how tired you are and how you don't want to be there!

Of course, they replied with "I can't do that." I asked her to trust me and simply start the concert expressing the genuine feeling she was having at that moment and then see where it takes you.

Have I told you about the time I sang with Patti LaBelle?

Or, should I say: the several times I sang with Patti Labelle?!… I was a teenager that first time-- the second time I went to see her, I took flowers. I was about 20 years old, she asked me if I could rap. I said:

“No, Patti, but I can sing.”

She gently waved me off and turned around. But then, she turned back to me, asking “Do you sing? Do you really sing?!” And I said

“Yes Patti, I can really sing!”…