As long as the songs are strong, I think you can express yourself in any style and have it be soulful and have it be your own voice.
I know this sounds strange, but as a kid, I was really shy. Painfully shy. The turning point was freshman year, when I was the biggest geek alive. No one, I mean no one, even talked to me.
Thunder and lightning. I have never - never - skied in thunder and lightning. It was a trip, for sure.