Well, Shine is definitely a great album and it comes in the mix of, I guess, the third British invasion. What's your opinion of the current musical landscape and what is it do you think that British women have that's so fascinating or people are really intrigued by?
British women...we're definitely our own species. We obviously don't care. Girl power in a male-dominated industry, there's a little bit of that. We're succeeding now because there can't be a male version of what we do. It doesn't feel right. That's why we're succeeding right now. We do what we do. There's no male equivalent.
What do you think separates you from the pack?
I'm just me. I'm not one of those people who is scared of what they want to say. I don't care. I just make sure I stay real with the music. I've done this for almost ten years, so I'm not brand new to this game. I discovered that the fundamentals of an artist is making great music and making sure that whatever comes out of your mouth is the truth.
In the past, you have mentioned Ella Fitzgerald, Mary J. Blige, and Dinah Washington as some of your musical influences. What inspiration do you draw from those women in particular?
Mary J. Blige, I would say is the feeling. I watched her live. I've listened to her sing my whole life. Ella Fitzgerald is purity of voice; just beauty. Dinah Washington, her attitude. She just got that. She doesn't care. She's onstage and performing and she would say the cheekiest things. She was one of the first black women to own a house back in the ‘20s. She had men. She handled herself. She didn't care. She did what she felt like. I read Quincy Jones' biography. He's arguably one of the greatest producers at the time and this woman had him up. She's just a powerful woman at an age when we were mammies and stuff. It didn't exist back then.
When it comes to fashion, you've always presented yourself with class and elegance. Who or what influence your style?
I'm very much just how I feel it, but my influences are Grace Jones and Edie Sedgwick, Audrey Hepburn – classic, sexy with a hard edge. It's always classic. At the same time, I speak my mind.
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