My parents' concern has been one of my greatest assets - I needed something to kick against. If they'd supported me every step of the way I might not have had enough fire in my belly to get where I have. Then I think: was this whole thing reverse psychology, did you really go to those lengths?
I was adopted. I was born in Edinburgh, and adopted when I was about two weeks old. And it's a good thing, I think, really, that back then, in '75 when I was born, you were really given a lot more information than you're given now when you're adopted. And you know, you can access that information when you're older.
Despite fashioning myself a very unconventional lifestyle with my music, I had ended up in a really conventional situation. I was also guilty of becoming a people-pleaser, which is absolutely exhausting and not a sustainable way of living. It can be so damaging to fall into that trap, especially in close relationships.
The way I feel about how I look changes daily, but as I've got older, I feel more confident.
I lived in L.A. for a year when I was four - my dad was doing a sabbatical at UCLA - so it always remained quite a familiar place.
Venice Beach is incredibly quiet at night: no streetlights, no traffic, hummingbirds in the garden, palm trees everywhere.
My first memories of life were Californian.
It's very addictive having a hit.
What I noticed about living by the sea when I moved to London was that it's really bad when you only have lots of other people to compare yourself to. I grew up relating to the land as well as other people.
When you're in the city, all you see is people. It gets more competitive, people become more introverted.
On tour with me, it's like fluffy-bunny land. Everyone loves every-one else.
Don't let your parents telling you that you shouldn't do something stop you from doing it.
I'm not image-obsessed.
I've never been a confessional writer.
My experience of being a singer and performer is there is something meditative and very positive about singing, just resonating the inside of your body.
Let's face it - the electric guitar is way sexier than the acoustic.
It's unacceptable to tour using non-environmentally friendly fuel when there are alternatives.
I don't let housekeeping in when I stay in hotels. It cuts down on all the caustic cleaning products and aggressive water usage, and I never use the little plastic bottles of toiletries they set out.
I always try to travel as light as possible. I feel really embarrassed having loads of luggage.
I've always tried to avoid music being direct therapy, and I've always found there's a power when you write something that can have its own interpretation - although I'm not being intentionally evasive.
