I am fascinated by the fragility and transience of our lives; singing and writing are two ways in which I try–and try, and try–to make sense of it all. But I have a hunch that Gertrude Stein was right on the money when she said, ”There ain’t no answer. There ain’t gonna be any answer. There never has been an answer. That’s the answer.” So I keep singing, and I keep writing. I keep promising that I’m going to meditate every single day, damn it, and be a better Buddhist. The Shambhala teachings appeal to my sense of pragmatism, which was never satisfied by Catholicism’s gilded (guilt-ed) dogma. I also love food and wine. I think that preparing and serving food for others is a truly loving act, and that sharing a meal, however simple, with people you love is one of Life’s greatest joys. Oh, one more thing: Ad Alta Voce means “Out Loud.” Like most things, it sounds better in Italian.