“Beyoncé built her f–king foundation from the bottom. I think that’s the exact career every female artist wants to have.”

Everyone thinks their mom is a superhero, and l feel like I want to be just like my mom. A superhero. She’s a very strong lady.

Roc Nation is such an incredible, unique team, especially in the music industry. Everyone genuinely loves and cares about each other.

I don’t know what it feels like not to have a great family support system – I was lucky to have that.

When I record music I like to be in one place and kind of have a base to keep going back to.

I have always liked the contrast between being blonde and having dark features.

I’ve always tried to be independent. It’s just my personality. I’ve always been the type to motivate the camp. I’ve always wanted to be the fuel for something—for music, the fuel for my family, the fuel for my best friend. Helping someone with what I’m doing.

I’d love to go on a safari – I’ve never been on a safari.

When it comes down to the music, it’s just you and the microphone. It’s not you and the record execs.

You can tell an honest artist from one who’s just given all their songs.

When I was a kid, I’d spray paint my hair, cut clothes up.

Women love an honest man.

I’m most scared of failing, of disappointing people.

I’ve always been into looking different.

I was signed at 18 and had to grow up quickly.

My mum and my dad are the sweetest couple.

I love nature, so I’d love to go out and just look at things and not care what I look like.

The great artist is a slave to his ideals.

I don’t judge too much as long as it’s good. As long as it’s good music and good artistry, I’m with it.

Guilt is cancer. Guilt will confine you, torture you, destroy you as an artist. It’s a black wall. It’s a thief.

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

When you become an artist you’re working away from home for so much time. You really see what the use of time means to you once you’re an artist and you travel so much.

The artist cannot look to others to validate his efforts or his calling. If you don’t believe me, ask Van Gogh, who produced masterpiece after masterpiece and never found a buyer in his whole life.

Working with some of the best makeup artists has taught me a lot of amazing tricks to making me feel more confident, and I can’t wait to share them with you guys.

No one is an artist unless he carries his picture in his head before painting it, and is sure of his method and composition.