Musician

A really happy kid. I would go off on my own a lot and live in my imagination. When I got my school report back it always said, 'Lisa should try a little harder because she always seems to be in a different world from everyone else.'

I work out with weights, do yoga and run on the treadmill at the gym.

Singers like Gladys Knight are mostly responsible for how I learned to sing.

You don't hear that much about me being a white and singing soul music in England, but I get the feeling that in America it's really a big thing. It's like, 'God, look at the color of her skin.'

I love acting, but I've always prioritized my music.

People compliment me and if I ignore them, it doesn't mean I'm rude. It just means I'm embarrassed.

You never know what to expect in life, so just roll with the punches and make the most of it. Because you've only got one life and you may as well have a really lovely time. And try not to hurt anybody on the way.

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!

We were working class, but my mother stopped working at the mill when she married my father and he went on to become an electrical engineer and later a draughtsman. So although we were never rich he was bringing in enough money to be able to splash out occasionally.

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

People come up to me and sing, 'Been around the world and I-I-I-I... ' all the time.

I do really good banana bread. And I make a chocolate cake with fudge icing that's bloody delicious.

My life isn't very racy or exciting so I make things up, tell stories. I like telling stories.

When I make an album I love to spend a long time making it and put my heart and soul into it.

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.

It's good to write about love because it never goes out of fashion. And I'm quite a romantic.

I'm like two different people. The way I sing comes from the music I listened to when I was younger, from black American R&B singers. My speaking voice is something else. It's what my mum and dad taught me.

People say to me about my music 'it got me through college, it saved my marriage, it helped me to come out.' It's wonderful to be part of someone's life in a big way.'

When all my friends were into punk, I'd be singing versions of soul ballads. I thought, 'Oh my God, I don't want them to know I'm doing this.' But I really enjoyed singing those songs.

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.