“And as a writer, your self-worth is literally based on the last thing you wrote.”

I only write about stuff that’s happened to me.. stuff I can’t get past personally. Luckily, I’m quite self-destructive.

Here in England, everyone’s a pop star, innit, whereas in America they believe in the term artist.

I’m not a natural born performer.

I just dress like… I’m an old black man. Sorry! Like I’m an old Jewish black man. I just dress like it’s still the ’50s.

I don’t think your ability to fight has anything to do with how big you are. It’s to do with how much anger is in you.

I read a lot when I’m travelling and always have a couple of books on the go.

I’m happiest with my family around me.

I told you I was trouble, you know that I’m no good.

The jazz I love is sweet and pure with raw elements, which is exactly what the good hip-hop is doing now.

Relationship doesn’t remain, We resonate on different flames, I could cut you down again, If you were like all other men, If you were like all other men, I know that I could shut you down again

I wouldn’t say I’m a feminist, but I don’t like girls pretending to be stupid because it’s easier.

Some men do think I’m a psycho bunny-boiler.

It’s too much of a drinking culture, everything tastes better with a drink. Like, watch TV: glass of wine. Cooking dinner: glass of champagne. White wine vinegar hasn’t got white wine in it. Has it?

I can play a lot of different instruments adequately but nothing really well.

I had a real stage school voice and I could do loud things, but it’s not about being loud, it’s about sensitivity and subtlety in music. You can do so much more with a quiet voice than with a belter.

Life’s short. Anything could happen, and it usually does, so there is no point in sitting around thinking about all the ifs, ands and buts.

I don’t hear it now the way I did when I was 20. I think it is undeniable that the songs have become more instantaneously descriptive and literal.

I would address an affectionate exhortation to the youthful literati, grounded on my own experience. It will be but short; for the beginning, middle, and end converge to one charge: NEVER PURSUE LITERATURE AS A TRADE.

Now, as never before, the old phrase has a literal meaning: we are all in the same boat.

The literal, basic thing of the stage is really like a magnet. It brings me back to earth.

I enjoy every climb – maybe it’s because it’s a literal dance between life and death.

Quite literally she had time on hand, while staring at the lines in her skin. – Sketches of a maze.