I started writing an album on flights to Africa and Brazil, but it was crazy because I left the notebook on the plane. It had seven or eight songs in it. After that, I'm not writing any more songs on notebooks - and I keep my Blackberry close!

A lot of scarves are made to stand out and therefore not appropriate on your head, say, at work.

You have to have courage to look back and be honest about your own drama.

I'm not slimming down for anyone and losing my figure.

I believe in illusion - I don't believe in magic.

I'm never scared to ask a question or state the obvious, y'know.

I will never say I am committed to somebody unless I'm serious about that person.

You can be sexy, but respect yourself and make sure you get that respect.

Labrinth is a super talented singer, producer, songwriter from London.

My mind is always going.

Most of my thinking is done at night.

I always thought that if record companies didn't understand me, fine - I'd go and do it by myself.

The man for me has to have his own life or be as busy as me.

With my music, I don't have to stay in one lane. One day I'm in Motown, and the next day I'm in reggae.

I always say, 'There's a difference between cooked food and McDonald's.' Your mom's homemade dinner - you enjoy this more than you enjoy the fast food that comes along and goes, and I strive to make homemade dinner every time I put out an album.

I can get a call at 2 A.M., and the person on the other end is like: 'Sorry, did I wake you?' and I'm like: 'No, I'm wide awake.'

I love singing, so I want to see how far I can take it. I love the challenge, and I won't be happy until I have a wall full of gold discs and seven huge world tours under my belt.

I want a TV series, I'm gonna do some acting jobs, I'm gonna do some Broadway jobs, everything!

My favorite film involving scarves was little Edie in 'Grey Gardens.' I often wear scarves like that, under hats.

A lot of my girlfriends are always telling me they're really strong independent women, but they've got their boy on the side, and they only go over when he calls.

I've always been a fan of Nigerian artist D'banj. He's now signed to Kanye West's Good Music label.

I remember being, like, the age of 7 and just always being in control of something or someone, a baby somewhere. I had lots of cousins and brothers, and we were all taught that's how you are, you know. Things don't just run themselves; you have to make them run.

People want to say something negative before they say something good.

I try not to judge because I've been judged a heck of a lot, and it don't feel nice.

I always want to remain inspired.

People have created feuds between me and other artists.

When I need things to happen, I need them to happen now, you know. I don't want to be having a meeting about a meeting about a meeting, which is what can happen in Britain.

People are getting ready for music that makes them feel happy again rather than being depressed at the way the world is going right now.

I have to live authentically at all times. And that's part of what makes me an artist. I'm not scared to do that.

I've always dug Audrey Hepburn. I think she's one of the classic beauties.

The only thing I don't have is hips.

If you think about where I'm from, I'm not supposed to be singing in the first place. I'm not supposed to be alive right now.

Law became boring, but like every job I've done, it helped prepare me for a career in music.

If you cannot smile when you listen to music, then do not listen to it!

I went to New York and Miami and hung out by the beach, and I love the American boys, so I wrote a song about it.

Luke James has this mystique about him that's not something you can explain; you can only experience it. He's got a whole D'Angelo feel to him as well.

I'm so, so full of joy that America elected Obama. He didn't win because he was black - people voted for him because he had a plan and because he talked sense and because you believed him.

My style is Edie Sedgwick meets Grace Jones, or Audrey Hepburn meets Salt 'n' Pepa. Strong and feisty but still classic.

People like the shows I do. I want to be real, to have fun, even when I dance on stage... it's a buzz.

My mum is West African, from Senegal; my dad is from Grenada. There was a huge controversy about them getting together.

I feel like I'm beautiful, and every woman should feel like that.

BMG has been an awesome partner throughout my career, and with New London, we plan to continue bridging the gap between soul, pop, London, and New York - uniting them through music.

I can sit in my room and write a song that I think might be a hit. I can sort of make myself do that, and then I'll play it to a friend, and they'll say, 'Oh, that's nice.' But when something happens to me, and I sit down and write a song to get rid of my emotions, they'll turn around and say, 'Wow, that's great.'

I've still gotta come across as happy when inside I feel crap!

I couldn't just hand in any old rubbish - I can't go on tour and sing something for three years if I don't believe in it.

Reality really isn't as dull as it's cracked up to be.

My mom, for all intents and purposes, was a single parent.

I always have to get my U.K. fix, and 'Downton Abbey' is definitely that. I absolutely love period dramas, but this one is particularly appealing - following the ins and outs of aristocracy as well as the interaction between the rich and the poor.

This fame is a juggernaut: It slaps you in the face, and you don't know what you're doing. You don't know who has your back, who is your support system.

With the first album, I wanted to do so many different things, and I was fighting with myself to try and see if I was worthy enough to do it.