“I really started writing music to challenge myself, to see what I could write.”

Since I was 16, I’ve felt a black cloud hangs over me. Since then, I have taken pills for depression.

I was hit by a car once on my bike, but I still rode home.

When I’m nervous, I stutter, and I had to keep stopping and starting.

I write songs about stuff that I can’t really get past personally – and then I write a song about it and I feel better.

I wouldn’t be with a man who was scared of me, but I don’t think men are scared of me – look at me, I’m tiny. I don’t think I’m capable of putting anyone off. I’m a nice girl.

I’ve never been an idiot – I was a smart girl but I’d do stupid things like go around Asda and nick stuff because my friends told me to. I was a good girl as a teenager.

I can’t be arsed with game players. I’m more ‘I like you, do you like me? Let’s go and do something about it.’ I’m a very straightforward person like that.

If I heard someone else singing like me, I would buy it in a heartbeat.

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.

I look forward to the challenges.

If your work becomes a source of enjoyment and a challenge, it will never seem like work – it will be fun. If you ever feel that your work is a burden, there is no point carrying on with it.

Regardless of the challenges and obstacles that have been put in front of me, I am staying optimistic about the remainder of the year.

I may have had a lot of luck in my life, but I still need to find a challenge in the game.

You should not remain in your comfort zone; if you want to make it big, you must challenge yourself, get out of your comfort zone, and succeed in doing well outside of your comfort areas.

The hardest challenge is to be yourself in a world where everyone is trying to make you be somebody else.

Life is a song-sing it. Life is a game-play it. Life is a challenge-meet it. Life is a dream-realize it. Life is a sacrifice-offer it. Life is love-enjoy it.

Real education should enable one to utilise the knowledge one has acquired to meet the challenges of life and to make all human beings happy as far as possible.