I don't make music for eyes. I make music for ears.

I have insecurities of course, but I don't hang out with anyone who points them out to me.

I like having my hair and face done, but I'm not going to lose weight because someone tells me to. I make music to be a musician not to be on the cover of Playboy.

My voice went recently, never happened before, off like a tap. I had to sit in silence for nine days, chalkboard around my neck. Like an old-school mime. Like a kid in the naughty corner. Like a Victorian mute.

I've never been more normal than I am now.

I just want to make music, I don't want people to talk about me. All I've ever wanted to do was sing. I don't want to be a celebrity. I don't want to be in people's faces, you know, constantly on covers of magazine that I haven't even known I'm on.

I like looking nice, but I always put comfort over fashion. I don't find thin girls attractive; be happy and healthy. I've never had a problem with the way I look. I'd rather have lunch with my friends than go to a gym.

I don't write songs about a specific, elusive thing. I write about love, and everyone knows what it is like to have your heart broken.

I've been singing properly every day since I was about fifteen or sixteen, and I have never had any problems with my voice, ever. I've had a sore throat here and there, had a cold and sung through it, but that day it just went while I was onstage in Paris during a radio show. It was literally like someone had pulled a curtain over it.

Heartbreak can definitely give you a deeper sensibility for writing songs. I drew on a lot of heartbreak when I was writing my first album, I didn't mean to but I just did.

It's never been an issue for me - I don't want to go on a diet, I don't want to eat a Caesar salad with no dressing, why would I do that? I ain't got time for this, just be happy and don't be stupid. If I've got a boyfriend and he loves my body then I'm not worried.

I am never writing a breakup record again, by the way. I'm done with being a bitter witch.

I've never wanted to look like models on the cover of magazines. I represent the majority of women and I'm very proud of that.

Crying is really bad for your vocal cords.

I'm scared of audiences. One show in Amsterdam I was so nervous, I escaped out the fire exit. I've thrown up a couple of times. Once in Brussels, I projectile vomited on someone. I just gotta bear it. But I don't like touring. I have anxiety attacks a lot.

The focus on my appearance has really surprised me. I've always been a size 14 to 16, I don't care about clothes, I'd rather spend my money on cigarettes and booze.

People are starting to go on about my weight but I'm not going to change my size because they don't like the way I look.

I love hearing my audience breathe.

You have to prioritize what you stress about when you have a child.

I love a card. You know, cards? At birthdays? I collect them.

I was adopting an Ethiopian child, that's not true. My house was haunted, that wasn't true. God, there's been so many rumours.

Mum loves me being famous! She is so excited and proud, as she had me so young and couldn't support me, so I am living her dream, it's sweeter for both of us. It's her 40th birthday soon and I'm going to buy her 40 presents.

I don't really need to stand out, there's room for everyone. Although I haven't built a niche yet, I'm just writing love songs.

I no longer buy papers or tabloids or magazines or read blogs. I used to. But it was just filling up my day with hatred.

I am quite loud and bolshie. I'm a big personality. I walk into a room, big and tall and loud.

I'd love to be an artist always, but if no one wants me, I'd love to write songs for other people, be a manager, nurture new talent.

I'm really happy to be me, and I'd like to think people like me more because I'm happy with myself and not because I refuse to conform to anything.

My life is full of drama, and I don't have time to worry about something as petty as what I look like.

I love love songs. But I love pop music as well: Girls Aloud, Kylie, the Spice Girls, East 17, Mika.

I don't want to be a celebrity. I don't want to be in people's faces, you know, constantly on covers of magazine that I haven't even known I'm on.

I can't write another breakup record. That would be a real cliche.

My life is full of drama, and I don't have time to worry about something as petty as what I look like.

I'm like Johnny Cash. I only wear black.

I don't like going to the gym.

I love a bit of drama. That's a bad thing. I can flip really quickly.

I get so nervous on stage I can't help but talk. I try. I try telling my brain: stop sending words to the mouth. But I get nervous and turn into my grandma. Behind the eyes it's pure fear. I find it difficult to believe I'm going to be able to deliver.

I will not do festivals. The thought of an audience that big frightens the life out of me.

My body doesn't have any rhythm, you know. I've got quite good rhythm when I'm singing but my feet are very much two left feet.

I can't believe I did a peace sign on TV - like Ringo Starr!

It's warts and all in my songs, and I think that's why people can relate to them.

I'm very confident. Even when I read people saying horrible stuff about my weight.

I've got some news... I'm delighted to announce that Simon and I are expecting our first child together. I wanted you to hear the news direct from me, obviously we're over the moon.

I have never been insecure, ever, about how I look, about what I want to do with myself. My mum told me to only ever do things for myself, not for others.

Americans are always mortified when I tell them this, but in England, it's a tradition to put your plaques and photographs and awards and gold records and stuff in your bathroom. I don't know why.

I was about to meet Beyonce, and I had a full-blown anxiety attack. Then she popped in looking gorgeous, and said, 'You're amazing! When I listen to you I feel like I'm listening to God.'

Sometimes my songs wander off a bit and are not always coherent.

In the songs I can still be really really direct but in interviews when I'm explaining my songs I shouldn't be so direct about who they're about.

There will be no new music until it's good enough and until I'm ready.

Sometimes with pop music, you have to see it to love it. With soul music, it's sparse. There's nothing that's pretentious or planned. It's just so gutsy.

I don't want people confusing what it is that I'm about. I just stand there and sing. And I don't do stunts or anything. if I wanted to do all that, I don't think I'd get away with it.

I don't want to be in everyone's face. I'm a big music fan, and I get really pissed off when it gets like that... and I don't want people to get like that with me.

The thought of someone spending $20 to come and see me and saying, 'Oh, I prefer the record and she's completely shattered the illusion' really upsets me. It's such a big deal that people come give me their time.

The way I write my songs is that I have to believe what I'm writing about, and that's why they always end up being so personal - because the kind of artists I like, they convince me, they totally win me over straight away in that thing. Like, 'Oh my God, this song is totally about me.'

If I am constantly working, my relationships fail. So at least now I can have enough time to write a happy record. And be in love and be happy. And then I don't know what I'll do. Get married. Have some kids. Plant a nice vegetable patch.

I doubt I'll be singing forever, because at some point people aren't going to want to hear my music, and I hope that I'll still get the opportunity to write songs.

I can't dance to save my life.

I am quite loud and bolshie.

I don't date celebrities.

My worst fear is my music won't connect with the public.

I wouldn't be able to write a song like 'Someone Like You' and get someone else to sing it because it's so personal. It's like giving away your heart.

I don't write songs about a specific, elusive thing.

I've always written down how I feel.

I don't rely on my figure to sell records.

You can't complain about your dressing room or you'll look like Celine Dion.

I'm scared of audiences.

I find it quite difficult to think that there's, you know, about 20 million people listening to my album that I wrote very selfishly to get over a breakup. I didn't write it being that it's going to be a hit.

If I were a writer and not a singer in 10 years, I don't know how I'd feel about writing really personal songs and getting someone else to sing them.

I think it's shameful when you sell out. It depends what kind of artist you wanna be, but I don't want my name anywhere near another brand.

People think that I popped out of my mother's womb singing 'Chasing Pavements'.

There is nothing that would upset me more than my dad being bribed by the press. It's like, 'Just let them run it, then. Don't you give them ammunition.'

I'm nervous whenever I perform.

In five years' time I'd like to be a mum. I want to settle down and have a family, definitely sooner rather than later. I'd like to have finished my second album too, maybe even my third. I'd like a sound that sticks around that other people are inspired by and that people know is me.

I want to go and see things as a fan again. I am a fan, but I can't remember what it feels like to be a fan anymore. Because I've become an artist. I've become the artist.

It has gotten worse as I'm becoming more successful. My nerves. Just because there's a bit more pressure, and people are expecting a lot more from me.

I wanted to be a singer forever. But it's not really my cup of tea. Having the whole world know who you are.

I no longer buy papers or tabloids or magazines or read blogs. I used to.