I thought I had a clear picture of death, but now I know it's a mystery and it will always be a mystery, although it is something we all have in common: everybody knows that life ends with death.

I think that after a year of Portishead I've become a little more sober.

Most of the lyrics are over a year old, and it doesn't feel like it's about me. Time created a distance.

You feel the music needs something but you don't know what. So you start searching, fitting, measuring, trying. Every time you try another angle. And sometimes that's frustrating, especially if you don't come up with something for three days.

My voice adapts itself to the music. I can do a lot more than you hear in Portishead.

The music comes first. When Geoff has made something the inspiration comes automatically. His music is very expressive. But still is is a very difficult process: I have to add something to his music, not push it away. It has to be equal, and I find that very difficult.

There's not only emotion in the way you sing but also in what you sing. That way I can compensate it.

I've just put my heart and soul in a song and need at least a week to recover.