Before I pass, I want to start an orphanage and name it after my mother. She worked with kids all her life.
— Jessie Reyez
I think life would be a lot easier if people were able to stand in their mistakes and not backtrack. If you did something wrong, own it. Like, hold your own.
The power's in the people, more so because we have platforms that we can control, like Instagram, Twitter, Soundcloud, where we can deliver straight. If you're building a fanbase, it's in your hands; it's not monopoly. You can do it.
I love my smart, supportive, if-I-see-something-I'm-going-to-speak-up type of men.
I remember that I wanted the Razor scooter, and my dad went to the garage, spent one or two days, and built one out of wood and painted it with the Colombian colors.
The second you're not honest with yourself, you've lost everything.
I'm a fan of writing, and writing letters, because I hate when I'm trying to get a thought out, and I can't.
I want to be remembered for doing something bigger than myself and making a positive impact on the world. I want to make my life worth something and to die a legend and to make my family proud.
Spanish is my first language.
I remember being in the States a few years ago, and when I said I was from Toronto, it doesn't really make a difference. Now you say you're from Toronto, and people want to talk to you a little longer. Drake's putting on and bringing a lot of eyes to the city, but I feel like the seed and the flowers have always been here.
It's hard to get someone to sit down and listen to an album in its entirety.
Kali Uchis is a dope person. Her voice, her style - she's so unique.
At every show, I pray with my band. It's a big thing.
If you're serious about your music, there's this thing called The Remix Project in Toronto, and it's an art incubator, and it's basically like free school. If you don't got money for studio, you don't have the networks, they help you.
I was very small when I started making music. I think the first song might have been when I was, like, in grade one, maybe? It was really ironic, cause it was a kid talking about taking time with growing up.
I feel like truth resonates, and you can taste when something is synthetic.
Why am I who I am? It's the way I was raised.
I can't be so guarded up all the time. I know it's not healthy.
You have to have your own back.
I'll never pretend to be I'm something I'm not.
I don't know how other people have a topic or have a goal when making a song, like, 'Let's write about this, or let's write about that.' It's kind of difficult for me. Personally, I like vibing out and freestyling.
I was an awful singer when I was younger.
To be blunt, I feel like lyricism in Spanish is of a different quality than English. You can get really poetic in Spanish, but I feel like if you do that in English, you risk sounding cheesy. In Spanish, it's never that. It's always this deep, passionate, beautiful imagery; it's painted different, a different color.
Some people's parents listened to the Beatles... but my family is Alquimia, Celia Cruz, and Carlos Vives - this old, rich Colombian music. I loved hearing that while I was growing up.
Someone can be miles away, but if they're in your heart, that means they're locked in your head, too.
When I went to school, I didn't know a lick of English, but it was okay because there were so many immigrants in the area, a lot of the kids didn't speak a lick of English, either. It was normal to have a wicked accent.
I remember going to audition in Toronto for a girl group. I was 15 or 16. I went in with my guitar. I had the wickedest nerves, man! I was decent, but not good enough.
I'm very meticulous.
I feel like humans, when you're faced with decisions, you can go up and down: duality.
I have really dope parents.
Authenticity is hella important.
There are things I still criticize myself heavy for. There are days I have to pick myself back up, but that, to me, is success; it's getting to both sides: physical and the spiritual, mental. Just peace. Peace of mind.
Me personally, I have a small circle. Part of that is because sometimes, you meet people, and you can feel the synthetic energy.
Talk to your enemies; sometimes ignorance comes from a lack of understanding.
At Afropunk, everyone can be themselves, and I think that's beautiful.
Frank Ocean - I have so much respect for him.
Music's always been in my home. My dad plays guitar, and I grew up listening to cumbia and salsa and boleros.
When you come from an immigrant home, you're in a whole different world until you leave your house. In my teenage years, I had to learn to switch cultures the second I left my house and, when I came back, to go back to my fundamentals.
Canada has this really cool way - specifically Toronto - of encouraging you to wave both flags: if you've been born there, like, wave your flag and then wave your parent's flag, too, and be proud of it.
I know I'm my own worst critic.
When I sing in Spanish, my tone is different. I feel more relaxed because that's how I speak to my family.
My earliest memories have to do with music.
I feel like my objective in music is to take a hammer and nail and chip away a piece of my heart and give it to someone, so I feel, with merch, it's a tangible parallel of that.
Fear is a real thing.
I don't have time to date.
