What is it about Etta that you love?

I believe her. There's no other artist or band that I believe as much as I do Etta James. She makes me feel like she's singing to me when I'm listening to her records. I hold my breath whenever I hear her. I think she's mind-blowing and she convinces me. I think it's really rare to be able to make one person feel like they're the one you're singing to. There's no other artist that I've ever heard that makes you feel like that.

Have any of your fans expressed that same connection with you? All the songs from your album you've written from your own personal experiences. Has anyone come up to you and expressed, "I've gone through that – thank you for it."?

One of the best things about being able to play live to people is you always go to meet them after the show, have a cigarette outside. When I was making my album, I wasn't thinking about the fact that people are going to hear it. It was just to get the boy off my chest and out of my head. To help me get over something and be able to help other people is the best thing ever.

Do you ever feel pressured by the "role model" label?

Sometimes. People come up to me and say they're so pleased that their daughters like me. But it's a bit worrying being a role model as well. There's really no pressure with it. I'm very myself all the time - kind of what you see is what you get. 

You, along with Amy Winehouse, Leona Lewis and a host of others, are alumni of the BRIT School in Croydon. Why do think that school is able to produce so many stars?

The BRIT School is the best environment that nurtures you. My talent wouldn't have been nurtured if I hadn't gone there. It's just a great place to grow into your own. It's a complete coincidence that all of us have come out from the same school and done as well as we have. When I was there, there was absolutely no spotlight on the school. I think it was complete coincidence, but it's such a great place to be yourself and grow into your own.

As you continue to grow into your own, what lessons have you learned along the way?

When at home and with your friends and in the BRIT School - you're surrounded. You're a huge fish in a small pond, whereas when you leave and go out from your comfort, you're a goldfish in an ocean. That's the thing I learned. You need to know what you want to do. Up until I was 16, I was just singing Destiny's Child songs, hoping I'd be a singer. You have to know what you want to be and who you want to be and what you want to do. I didn't know that till I was about 18.