I have a long history with Soho: even when I was at art college, I came down to Soho to work in the summer.

I became the magnet for a lot of scary aggression. Cos it's scary Up North!

If you were born by the sea, there's always a magnet that draws you back there.

Albums, with me, have never had an easy birth. Especially when all the songs are self-written songs.

I'd always wanted to write a song about a leather jacket and how wearing it makes you feel. I love leather jackets, and I've got a big collection of them.

I can imagine moving out to the seaside at some point. I like Brighton, my sister lives there. I'm a seaside boy and whenever I go there, I find myself writing songs about it.

I've always loved the rock & roll element to live shows, because whatever else I do, I'm basically a rock/pop performer, and that's what I like.