I feel like I've got far more gay fans in America... Maybe they caught wind that I have a cute Jewish brother who's gay.

For me 'You & I Forever' is celebrating the person you love being by your side. This is what it means to others

I always have to pretend I'm somebody else to give the best performance. It kind of feels like I'm acting; it's definitely an exaggerated version of me. I'm a very normal, down-to-earth person, but I wanted the videos to be striking, so I have to lay it on a little bit.

If you're from South London you feel like you're always trying to win people over, so perhaps that underdog passion comes through.

I guess I'm a real fan of older music, and that's what shaped my taste and the way I sing.

I tried a couple of pop writers - none of the big, big, big ones - but it didn't work for me. I do have a commercial voice; I'm not quirky. I'm very normal and that's probably why I like people like Barbra Streisand and Whitney Houston. It's no-nonsense. They sing well, and that's it.

I always liked how people like Grace Jones and Annie Lennox pushed it with the videos. I'm not the most stylish person at all, but there's something about playing dress-up for the day and playing the role of a singer.