You have to face things, have faith in what you do and go for it. Think, ‘What’s the worst that could happen?’
In a sense, the music business and I haven’t always been the best of bedfellows. Artists often have to fight their corner. Your music goes through these filters of record labels and media, and you’re hoping you’ll find someone who’ll help you get your work into the world.
We all come from women, and there’s something extraordinary about the mothers who raised us.
I have always felt a little homeless. It’s a strange thing.
There must be an angel playing with my heart.
Music is an extraordinary vehicle for expressing emotion – very powerful emotions. That’s what draws millions of people towards it. And, um, I found myself always going for these darker places and – people identify with that.
Success breeds the excitement to continue going.
The general population still thinks HIV is something that came in the 80s and went away, or that it only affects the gay population or intravenous drug users.
Life expectancy in many parts of Africa can be something around the age of thirty five to thirty eight. I mean you’re very fortunate if you live to that age. In fact when I went to Uganda for the first time one of the things that occurred to me was that I saw very few elderly people.
I’m appalled that the word ‘feminism’ has been denigrated to a place of almost ridicule and I very passionately believe the word needs to be revalued and reintroduced with power and understanding that this is a global picture. It isn’t about us and them.
Fame for fame’s sake is toxic – some people want that, with no boundaries. It’s unhealthy.
For me, pointing and clicking my phone is absolutely fine. People say that isn’t the art of photography but I don’t agree.
I also started writing songs because I had this burning activity in my heart and had to express myself.
If people like your music, you can’t guarantee they’re going to love you.
Why are we not valuing the word ‘feminism’ when there is so much work to be done in terms of empowerment and emancipation of women everywhere?
It’s harder to get out of bed when you’ve failed.
I want to branch out. I want to write. I write poetry. I want to see my children grow up well.
I’m from a working-class background, and I’ve experienced that worry of not having a job next week because the unions are going on strike.
The worst thing someone gets is isolated. Isolation is the darkest part of any condition.
Our ancestors are totally essential to our every waking moment, although most of us don’t even have the faintest idea about their lives, their trials, their hardships or challenges.