I've written what and when I want to. It's been about expressing myself. But with the degree, I had to learn to do everything in a very specific, disciplined way. I am very disciplined, but this demanded a totally different kind of discipline. A real challenge.
It's a very organic process, and it has a specific order to it. I love to write, and once you've written, then you arrange. After the arrangement, you record it, and then you tour it.
My mother bought a piano, put it in the front room, and I just started writing my songs.
You don't have to be rich and famous. You just have to be an ordinary person, doing extraordinary things. I'd like more people to know that it's there. Women's achievements still aren't recognised enough in many areas.
Writing music is just something that I was born to do.
Inspiration doesn't really work like that - you're not looking out for it. Inspiration is something that tends to capture you rather than you capture it.
So, the combination of looking at lots of different people and how they react to each other and how they relate to each other and waiting for that inspiration is the thing that allows me to keep writing.
In America, you watch TV and think that's totally unreal, then you step outside and it's just the same.
Just an hour with you, and I understand why we had to meet.
I've always written in a free, unencumbered way.
I am constantly being told that I have been a big influence for many people, including other musicians.
I found my sound early on. Look at U2: they haven't changed their music for 20 years. Anyway, many people come unstuck when they try to change what they do and what they are known for.
One of them would definitely be the Nelson Mandela gig, when I played the tribute song for him. He was up and dancing, and he really enjoyed it. It was a really lovely occasion.
Yesterday I was playing Beethoven's fifth, because I love that.
Classical, Romantic, and Baroque music, that's what I really like.
When I was younger I was obsessed with writing, so even if I wanted to listen, I didn't have time.
Right from day one, you know when you've written a good song.
I love to go on tour and perform. I love all the parts of the process.
When you're on tour you definitely don't want lots of arguments. It's very important that everybody gets on because you're in close proximity a great deal of the time.
All your travelling is together, you eat together, you're on stage as a band together, when you get to the sound-check the band and the crew are all together.
