Quotes from Estelle

Law became boring, but like every job I've done, it helped prepare me for a career in music.

When my career slowed, I knew deep down it wasn't over.

People are getting ready for music that makes them feel happy again rather than being depressed at the way the world is going right now.

I got to the point where I was fed up with so many people telling me how and who I was supposed to be.

I am a black British female artist, so I must be like Ms Dynamite, I must be like Shystie, I must be like Jamelia, but we're all different.

If you think about where I'm from, I'm not supposed to be singing in the first place. I'm not supposed to be alive right now.

A lot of big whoever producers, they come with a song and they say, 'Sing this,' and I'm not that girl.

I can get a call at 2 A.M., and the person on the other end is like: 'Sorry, did I wake you?' and I'm like: 'No, I'm wide awake.'

If I don't agree with something, I let people know, and it occasionally leads to tension. But I usually iron things out.

I will test a guy to within an inch of his sanity because I've been through too much drama. He has to be 100%.

Kanye West is my older brother, an inspiring guy and someone who keeps pushing my level up further and further.

Some days I might be wearing a little dress, and some days I might be wearing something with wings on it and be confusing.

The only thing I don't have is hips.

When there is hope, there is life.

A lot of my girlfriends are always telling me they're really strong independent women, but they've got their boy on the side, and they only go over when he calls.

The people at my label are always endorsing what I say. They say, 'You see the truth, so speak it.' They believe in me. They respect my opinion. At least I have an opinion, and I'm not trying to play it safe. I don't go around saying, 'I think everyone is great, and the world is fantastic.' Everyone has opinions. They just don't say it.

People want to say something negative before they say something good.

I like time off because I also have a life outside of theater.

Nobody's going to tell me to rap in an American accent.

In order for me to write, I have to experience life. I write the songs based on real life, and I perform them from a very real place.

I've still gotta come across as happy when inside I feel crap!

The reality show 'America's Next Top Model' is my girlie pleasure.

I always thought that if record companies didn't understand me, fine - I'd go and do it by myself.

I'd really started hating music. I'd started hating all the songs, hating being in the industry, hating doing the shows. So I had to learn to love music again if I wanted to continue doing this.