Growing up I used to love bands like Free and ELO and the Rolling Stones. When Robert Plant got in touch it made perfect sense to me.

I think you translate emotion better when you take your hands off.

It's not that I have resisted songwriting, it's just not something I felt I have had to do. I've just not woken up and thought, I must do this. But I have often heard music that I have instantly felt 'I have to sing that song'

My parents made us do everything, try everything.

I don't get recognised in London or at home either - very seldom anyway. Either that or I look so crazy no one wants to come up to me.

I still think of myself as from Illinois.

Whenever I've chosen a song because it's clever, it's always turned out to be a mistake.