Taxi drivers used to ask me what kind of music I did and I'd say, well, it's kind of jazz, soul, classical - but that makes no sense to anyone. Now I say I just write my own songs. I thought I had to help people get me, but I don't think they need to be spoon-fed. If you connect with me that is cool. I don't need the whole world to feel like I am a soul angel.

Who made you the center of the universe?

London audiences have this reputation for being a bit too cool for school.

My songs are very personal, which means they are fantastically therapeutic to write, but performing them night after night is emotionally draining.

Taxi drivers used to ask me what kind of music I did and I'd say, well, it's kind of jazz, soul, classical - but that makes no sense to anyone. Now I say I just write my own songs. I thought I had to help people get me, but I don't think they need to be spoon-fed. If you connect with me that is cool. I don't need the whole world to feel like I am a soul angel.

I respect hippos. They just look the way they do; they can't do anything about it, but they don't seem bothered.

You don't have to aim to be the best of everything, thinking that one day you're going to be the top of the world; I don't think it exists.