I've learned my lessons, but I'm also still learning them.

With this sort of career, you need determination. You've got to sacrifice a lot of things: family, friends - not that I had any - but you sacrifice everything.

I dedicate all my time to music. And I'm glad that it's paying off in some ways.

My heroes: Nick Cave, Tom Waits, Nina Simone.

When I was very young, my brother and I, we used to go into charity shops to buy suits. The thing about clothes is that people judge you by what you wear, unfortunately. So when we wore suits, people gave us respect - we were very young, and it made them think we were older.

When I lived in Paris, I would shop at antique shops and buy these huge coats because I was very cold. And then I started performing in them because I felt safe. I never stopped doing that.

I like black a lot because I can't really see colors - so I wear a lot of dark-colored clothes. You've got to be aware of what you're wearing because you might become that.

People don't always realize that as a performer, you've got to relive those moments. Memories crash through your brains, and you've got to think about your past and the reason why you wrote the song. All that emotion comes back.

My music isn't mainstream music.

Not all families stay together.

I got into a lot of trouble. Maybe that's why my parents didn't really like me and I didn't blend in with my family. I was always the naughty one.

In this life, I've learned to be patient. And I'm still learning... Even now, I wish things would go quicker.

If I weren't musical, then I would have just published a book, you know? But I'm lucky enough to play piano, and so I use piano to convert my poems.

Arizona - I've only spent a few days there, but it's inspired me the most. It's so peaceful.

I'm from London, and you hardly see stars because of the pollution of light. But in Arizona, there's nothing, so I can see the stars.

I just wanted to eat, to survive. I started singing a cappella in bars. I saved up money to get my first guitar and started writing songs.

Fame is like icin' on the cake.

I'm literally nowhere yet... When things started going well, this French designer called Ami gave me some shoes and clothes to wear. But when I sat down to play the piano, the very new shoes kept slipping off the pedal. So I took them off, threw them away, and have never worn shoes while playing the piano from then on.

I never thought I'd say this, but to any child listening, the world is your oyster.

I adopted this feeling that the stage is my home, so just keep my coat on and not wear anything else.

In Paris, I was really singing for the sake of living. But eventually people said, 'Keep going; you've got a great voice,' and I started having confidence in my voice all of a sudden. That's when I started creating my own music.

I just want us to understand each other. That's the point of my music.

I grew up as a man because I was by myself.

Paris is very dear to me, and I'll never forget Paris.

I realised that we're all equal - it's all about helping each other.

I do music to tell people my thoughts and opinions about life, emotions, politics, everything.

It's my only freedom, music, and I'm not going to give it up to anyone else.

I don't have a flat anywhere. I'm registered in the U.K. for tax purposes, I suppose, and my mail goes to my parents.

I started writing music in a French way: more focused on lyrics than melody.

I'm a very honest person, and I'm quite emotional for a man. If I want to say something, I'll say it.

I always try to be as discreet as possible, so I wear black.

When I think about Edmonton, Silver Street and Pymmes Park, the old people whose faces are so unhappy, it pushes me to be better. I want to be better to help places like this.

If I win the Mercury Prize, I'll be very honoured. If I don't win it, I won't have lost it. Someone else will have won it. And that will also be good.

Music isn't a competition.