I went to the Brit School for the performing arts in Croydon at 14, picking music as my main subject, and I'm so glad I did. I knew lots of people who'd gone there, so I always had my mind set on it.

My dad was a soul fan and a singer himself, and he loved vocal harmony, stuff like the Beach Boys and Motown like the Four Tops, which was a big influence on me.

People expect you to be this weird cartoon sometimes when you're a musician. I hate that. I hate standing out. I hate people looking at me. I just want to be part of the crowd.

Destiny's Child literally taught me how to sing.

A lot of people say I'm like a pop girl, but I don't know what that means.

When I got the beat, in my imagination I was catapulted into this club where all the boys and girls are looking hot and wearing amazing clothes, and there's this girl dancing and looking better than me.

When I was 18, I'd be out four nights a week - I want to have that energy again but I've found I'm a bit old and ready for retirement.