I definitely didn't wanna be a one-dimensional artist that you can just put into one box. Because, to me, we're all masters of certain energies, and we all create different colours.
I don't ever think it's a good idea to try to recreate the success you've had before; it's all about chasing something fresh and new.
I never called myself an urban artist, but that's what I was classed as, and I almost tried to live up to the name instead of who I really was.
I'm not just looking to be famous and attach myself to famous names. I want to make history in the business in terms of creativity.
Those that know me know that I'm not 100% in love with commercial pop music. It's not my preferred genre - I don't do squeaky clean pop.
My main thing is I just want to share as much hope and happiness as possible for music. If I can share as many moments and help people believe in themselves... if I can do that, then I'll feel like my job is done.
I'm from Hackney, and it's an area that is not so pretty, and we have a different way of expressing ourselves than somebody from uptown that has lots of money.
I think producing a record for other artists is almost like giving them advice, and I would say that it is easier to produce another artist than it is to produce yourself.
I'm a musical geek. It's like there's this big, wild universe in my head, and I love to express it.
I have learned that while your putting your record together you can get so caught up in making what you want that you forget what you wanted in the first place.
Branding your song is the worst thing you can ever do. That's turning your song into a product.
I've got perfectionist issues, as I can't seem to let tracks out the studio - it drives my manager nuts.
I'm all for trying anything once; otherwise, you end up like David Guetta - reproducing the same formula over and over.
I don't see categories; I don't see styles - l see them all gelled together. And it was gospel that definitely helped me to do that.
I have to be honest: I think production is mad - exciting - because, of course, you're creating the record. When you're a singer, you're just singing. Creating the music, directing, and seeing where it's gonna go in production is very, very exciting.
You can make what you want. People care about what the artist has to say, what the sound is, and how it affects them.
When you make a record, I always imagine people dancing to it. If the chef thinks it tastes good, then there will be someone who ultimately believes the same thing.
You can't go up to girls and start talking about minor 7ths and expect to pull. It's not going to work.
I actually tried to learn the dictionary at one point. It didn't work; I only got through the first few pages.
It's a lot easier producing for people or being in the background, and they can take all the fire from the front. But in order to express the ideas that I have without any kind of contamination, I thought it would be a cool thing to be out front.
