My London: Macy Gray

What is your earliest London memory? Playing the Shepherd's Bush Empire in 1999. It was my first show over here. They invited the press, and everybody was seated at tables like they were having dinner. It was a bit odd.

What advice would you give a tourist? I would just say you've got to go out. I like the nightlife here, especially Subterania in Ladbroke Grove because it's funky and the boys are cute. It was the first place in London I heard really good music.

Who is in your secret address book? There is this one restaurant right in Leicester Square. It's kind of a diner, it's really small and it's always busy. And you can't move - you have to squeeze through all kinds of people just to get out the door. I don't know what it's called, though. It's that secret.

Harvey Nicks or Selfridges? Harvey Nicks. The Fifth Floor restaurant is great and the whole store in general is way cooler than Selfridges.

What do you miss when you're out of London? Omar, my boyfriend, who lives over here. He's a lot of fun and when I'm here I like hanging out with him. And I miss the clubs.

What would you do if you were Mayor for the day? I'd sort out Lord Snowdon and make him more polite. We had a little bit of a thing; he was supposed to take pictures of me and we got into a row, so I'd definitely like to do something about him.

What is your life philosophy? It probably changes every day. Right now it is love, peace and harmony.

What are your extravagances? Everything in my life is extravagant. I like that whole concept of being waited on and having someone to shop for me - it does so much for my ego.

Do you have a favourite pub? I'm not a bar girl. Unless it's a sports bar, I don't want to go to bars to just sit and drink. I like clubs and parties - as well as Subterania, I love Fabric, especially the drum 'n' bass and garage night, and Bagley's in King's Cross.

What perfume do you wear? I like Hanae Mori. That's my absolute favourite.

Where do you live and why? LA. It's a really sexy, easy town. I love London, too, though. Over here I like to stay at the Great Eastern Hotel on Liverpool Street.

What was the last book you bought? I just read Back In
The Days. It's a photography book about the whole Eighties hiphop-culture, and there are these really great pictures in it.

What are your favourite home comforts? Pillows, couches and stuffed animals - I like soft stuff. I have a lot of really plush, soft rugs.

What have been your most memorable London meals? You know what I do like? The Mango Room in Camden. It's more Caribbean, with jerk chicken and stuff like that, Jamaican food. I've had some good meals there.

What was the last CD you bought? I love the rapper 50 Cent. And Justin Timberlake: I rewind 'Cry Me A River' all the time. But I listen to my own CD more than anything. My new CD I'm obsessed with.

Where were the last three places you went on holiday? The Bahamas, Miami and home to Ohio. The Bahamas are beautiful - all beach. And I love Miami - if I ever move, it will be to Miami.

How do you get around town? By car. I've got a G-Wagon (a Mercedes 4WD), which is really cute. And I've got a Cadillac Escalade. I also like Minis - I was thinking about getting one.

What are your favourite shops? I like going down to Camden and just buying stuff off the street. I actually bought some furniture there - some wild, out-there lamps - for my house.

Macy Gray's single 'When I See You' is out now and her album The Trouble With Being Myself is released on 28 April