Joan Armatrading

“In America, you watch TV and think that's totally unreal, then you step outside and it's just the same.”

“That is one of the things about going on tour, that I get to work with some really talented people and it allows me to be able to listen to them as well - and just have fun on stage.”

“One of them would definitely be the Nelson Mandela gig, when I played the tribute song for him. He was up and dancing, and he really enjoyed it. It was a really lovely occasion.”

“Yesterday I was playing Beethoven's fifth, because I love that.”

“All your travelling is together, you eat together, you're on stage as a band together, when you get to the sound-check the band and the crew are all together.”

“This band - because this is myself on electric and acoustic guitars - we've done three tours together now and I really, really like it which is why I did the DVD as well.”

“I love to go on tour and perform. I love all the parts of the process.”

“When I was younger I was obsessed with writing, so even if I wanted to listen, I didn't have time.”

“Classical, Romantic, and Baroque music, that's what I really like.”

“So if you're on tour for eight months, a year... or whatever it is you definitely don't want arguments and I'm happy to say that I've always had a really nice bunch of people around me all the time.”

“Inspiration doesn't really work like that - you're not looking out for it. Inspiration is something that tends to capture you rather than you capture it.”

“My mother bought a piano, put it in the front room, and I just started writing my songs.”

“I found my sound early on. Look at U2: they haven't changed their music for 20 years. Anyway, many people come unstuck when they try to change what they do and what they are known for.”

“Just an hour with you, and I understand why we had to meet.”

“Right from day one, you know when you've written a good song.”

“I've written what and when I want to. It's been about expressing myself. But with the degree, I had to learn to do everything in a very specific, disciplined way. I am very disciplined, but this demanded a totally different kind of discipline. A real challenge.”

“It's a very organic process, and it has a specific order to it. I love to write, and once you've written, then you arrange. After the arrangement, you record it, and then you tour it.”

“I've always written in a free, unencumbered way.”

“So I've had lots of different bands over the years who have stayed with me for certain tours.”

“You don't have to be rich and famous. You just have to be an ordinary person, doing extraordinary things. I'd like more people to know that it's there. Women's achievements still aren't recognised enough in many areas.”