I was brought up in an environment where my parents expressed their financial concerns in front of their children.

It's much easier to write when you're sad. But you can end up isolated and depressed because you almost need to put yourself in that situation to have that angst to write from.

Ignore reality, there's nothing you can do about it.

Happy songs are very difficult to write. How many truly great upbeat songs are there?

I can understand why some people might look at me and say, 'What's she got to be depressed about?' I get that a lot in Britain, where mental health issues seem to be a big taboo.

I'm such a chameleon. I never get bored.

Saving animals is as simple as choosing synthetic alternatives instead of real fur.

If I start feeling down I'll gorge myself on pasta. That usually does the trick. It's the Italian blood in me.

Enjoy every moment: you never know when things might change.

It was only cool to have blond hair and be a surfer chick [in Sydney]. I could learn how to surf, but I still looked Italian. It took me a long time to realize that was a good thing.

Isolation is a big part of songwriting.

Something about him feels like forever…

Conscience does make cowards of us all.

Humanity is exalted not because we are so far above other living creatures, but because knowing them well elevates the very concept of life.

Surrealism runs through the streets.

I like to write a joke without any fat on it.The shorter the better. I cater for people with ADD, basically.

... love always betrays its intentions.

It will not be enough to rely on experts. Ordinary citizens must become experts too. It will take public opinion on a wide scale to ensure that world leaders act.

Music is careful attention paid to ongoing experience.

And do not change. Do not divert your love from visible things. But go on loving what is good, simple and ordinary; animals and things and flowers, and keep the balance true.

You’ve gotta keep control of your time, and you can’t unless you say no. You can’t let people set your agenda in life.