Write your own songs. It helps you to mean what you’re singing, which will then make it mean something to listeners.
As a teenager I had friends who had little music studios in their bedrooms and garages. I’d go and play around; very soon, my hobby became a passion.
I wanted to write about relationships. But I didn’t feel I had the experience to sing about them in a deep way. Studying psychology helped me out in terms of my understanding. I still look through my old textbooks when I’m in need of inspiration.
My skin is like a map of where my heart has been And I can’t hide the marks It’s not a negative thing.
I’m very honest in my music and I’m often asked to explain the lyrics; as an introvert, I find that quite hard. And I always wear high heels on stage, which can be painful.
My family comes from New Zealand, but I’m a London girl. I was born and raised in London, but I’ve got the blood of a New Zealander, so I always kind of felt like I didn’t belong – in a good way.
People don’t listen to one radio station. On iTunes you can mix different worlds and bring country and pop and folk and live music together with a mass audience. I could have sung ‘Easy’ in a country way but I just sang it how I sing. I think it’s a really nice blend.
Feel the rain on your skin, no one else can feel it for you.
I hate that feeling of being so full that you feel like you’re gonna burst, so I try not to do that.
I took temp jobs, recorded a demo in the evenings and eventually shopped a record deal. All I knew was that I wanted to write songs; thankfully, I also got to sing them.
I love lamb shank. It’s my favorite thing. You don’t have it in America. It’s a younger meat – it just falls off the bone – it’s kind of like a roast. I really like blackened cod too.
I love arranging my music, not in alphabetical order but by mood, creating playlists for when I have energy and want to work out or go-out party mixes and music to chill out to.
Staring at the blank page before you, Open up the dirty window, Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find.
I did actually like school. When I was 17, I was in college, but before that, I was home-schooled. I was very social. I liked to know everyone.
The way that I approach music has a bit of a sense of humor to it. Something slightly different that people can still relate to.
The pen is in your hands, the rest is still unwritten.
I would love to do something with Coldplay.
The music technology scene is changing so fast its hard to keep up.
I liked English and art and did a lot of painting. And for some reason I was good at math, but I wasn’t an A student. I really had to work hard to get good grades.
I bruise easily so be gentle when you handle me...
I think my song about ‘I want to have your babies’ really does freak a lot of guys out, not just my boyfriend!