People thought I disappeared, but I never went away. Music has always been a priority.

In Europe, I do see a lot of women who were fans years ago bring their daughters and sons to shows and that's how my music gets passed down, and I love that.

I started to sing professionally when I was about 13 or 14.

I'm a singer. I'm a musician. I'm a writer. Maybe - I don't know - I couldn't give a child what it needed.

I gave up everything and nearly became a farmer, walking around in headscarf and wellies for 10 years to find my confidence again.

I absolutely loved it in Ireland.

I know I idolise someone like Billie Holiday, but I don't look at her and think I have to imitate her lifestyle, to try and sing like she did.

In terms of the production, the style I use is what I see as the 'Lisa Stansfield sound' and I would hope that when anyone puts on one of my songs they don't even have to listen to my voice to know this is a Lisa Stansfield song, because of the way it sounds.

Probably because the first two albums were so successful, we got a little bit smug.

Let's face it, I have a fun job at the end of the day.

I've always been political but I don't like to bring it into my work any more because I think it limits me.

Fame made me insecure and insular. I wanted to run away from being me.

I'm not the sort of person who if everyone thinks you're fabulous you thrive on it.

Whenever I've collaborated with anyone in the past it's just happened really, I've never actively sought it out.

There are lots of artists I respect and admire.

I used to hate touring, I used to absolutely hate it! I think one of the reasons why was because in between songs I found it difficult to talk to the audience, and now I don't care, I say what I want!

Falling in love is an absolutely beautiful thing to go through, and why people shouldn't talk about it is beyond me.

I knew I'd made it when I was sitting on the bus into Rochdale and there was an old man listening to one of my songs. It was fantastic.

I've always been very emotional when I sing.

To me to singing is like a freedom. It's a very therapeutic thing. It's incredible. I can just lose myself. It's sort of like meditation.

I didn't want to be famous, I just wanted to sing.

My mum used to listen to Motown. Diana Ross was my first singing teacher, really. I'd just sing along all the time.

I was probably about four when I really wanted to start singing.

It's like, if someone asks me to do something and it seems like a really exciting project, but I maybe really frightened about it, nine times out of then I'll say yes imminently because then I can worry after I've said yes!