I don’t really need to stand out, there’s room for everyone. Although I haven’t built a niche yet, I’m just writing love songs.

The thought of someone spending $20 to come and see me and saying, ‘Oh, I prefer the record and she’s completely shattered the illusion’ really upsets me. It’s such a big deal that people come...

I like having my hair and face done, but I’m not going to lose weight because someone tells me to. I make music to be a musician not to be on the cover of Playboy.

I’m a big personality. I walk into a room, big and tall and loud.

I think it’s shameful when you sell out. It depends what kind of artist you wanna be, but I don’t want my name anywhere near another brand.

Heartbreak can definitely give you a deeper sensibility for writing songs. I drew on a lot of heartbreak when I was writing my first album, I didn’t mean to but I just did.

Sometimes my songs wander off a bit and are not always coherent.

I no longer buy papers or tabloids or magazines or read blogs. I used to. But it was just filling up my day with hatred.

The way I write my songs is that I have to believe what I’m writing about, and that’s why they always end up being so personal – because the kind of artists I like, they...

My voice went recently, never happened before, off like a tap. I had to sit in silence for nine days, chalkboard around my neck. Like an old-school mime. Like a kid in the naughty corner....

I’m like Johnny Cash. I only wear black.

I’m scared of audiences.

I don’t write songs about a specific, elusive thing. I write about love, and everyone knows what it is like to have your heart broken.

There will be no new music until it’s good enough and until I’m ready.

I love a card. You know, cards? At birthdays? I collect them.

I don’t want people confusing what it is that I’m about. I just stand there and sing. And I don’t do stunts or anything. if I wanted to do all that, I don’t think I’d...

I just want to make music, I don’t want people to talk about me. All I’ve ever wanted to do was sing. I don’t want to be a celebrity. I don’t want to be in...

I’m very confident. Even when I read people saying horrible stuff about my weight.

If I were a writer and not a singer in 10 years, I don’t know how I’d feel about writing really personal songs and getting someone else to sing them.

I’m scared of audiences. One show in Amsterdam I was so nervous, I escaped out the fire exit. I’ve thrown up a couple of times. Once in Brussels, I projectile vomited on someone. I just...

I have never been insecure, ever, about how I look, about what I want to do with myself. My mum told me to only ever do things for myself, not for others.

I was adopting an Ethiopian child, that’s not true. My house was haunted, that wasn’t true. God, there’s been so many rumours.

You can’t complain about your dressing room or you’ll look like Celine Dion.

I like looking nice, but I always put comfort over fashion. I don’t find thin girls attractive; be happy and healthy. I’ve never had a problem with the way I look. I’d rather have lunch...

It’s warts and all in my songs, and I think that’s why people can relate to them.

People think that I popped out of my mother’s womb singing ‘Chasing Pavements’.

Crying is really bad for your vocal cords.

I’ve got some news… I’m delighted to announce that Simon and I are expecting our first child together. I wanted you to hear the news direct from me, obviously we’re over the moon.

I love hearing my audience breathe.

I wouldn’t be able to write a song like ‘Someone Like You’ and get someone else to sing it because it’s so personal. It’s like giving away your heart.

I have insecurities of course, but I don’t hang out with anyone who points them out to me.

My body doesn’t have any rhythm, you know. I’ve got quite good rhythm when I’m singing but my feet are very much two left feet.

I find it quite difficult to think that there’s, you know, about 20 million people listening to my album that I wrote very selfishly to get over a breakup. I didn’t write it being that...

The focus on my appearance has really surprised me. I’ve always been a size 14 to 16, I don’t care about clothes, I’d rather spend my money on cigarettes and booze.

Americans are always mortified when I tell them this, but in England, it’s a tradition to put your plaques and photographs and awards and gold records and stuff in your bathroom. I don’t know why.

I’m really happy to be me, and I’d like to think people like me more because I’m happy with myself and not because I refuse to conform to anything.

I’ve always written down how I feel.

I don’t make music for eyes. I make music for ears.

I get so nervous on stage I can’t help but talk. I try. I try telling my brain: stop sending words to the mouth. But I get nervous and turn into my grandma. Behind the...

There is nothing that would upset me more than my dad being bribed by the press. It’s like, ‘Just let them run it, then. Don’t you give them ammunition.’

People are starting to go on about my weight but I’m not going to change my size because they don’t like the way I look.

I was about to meet Beyonce, and I had a full-blown anxiety attack. Then she popped in looking gorgeous, and said, ‘You’re amazing! When I listen to you I feel like I’m listening to God.’

Even if I did have, you know, a ‘Sports Illustrated’ body, I’d still wear elegant clothes.

My worst fear is my music won’t connect with the public.

I love love songs. But I love pop music as well: Girls Aloud, Kylie, the Spice Girls, East 17, Mika.

I can’t believe I did a peace sign on TV – like Ringo Starr!

I want to go and see things as a fan again. I am a fan, but I can’t remember what it feels like to be a fan anymore. Because I’ve become an artist. I’ve become...

I am never writing a breakup record again, by the way. I’m done with being a bitter witch.

Sometimes with pop music, you have to see it to love it. With soul music, it’s sparse. There’s nothing that’s pretentious or planned. It’s just so gutsy.

My life is full of drama, and I don’t have time to worry about something as petty as what I look like.