Leeds is the city where I can really be myself - Corinne Bailey Rae

"One of my biggest roles is I feel like a real representative for Leeds around the world because I feel like lots of people don't know the city," says Corinne Bailey Rae on the city she calls home.

- by Andrew Hutchinson

Corinne pictured in March 1999 when she was a member of Helen.

"Even just trying to explain where the city is and what it's so I feel like I'm often advocating for the city and saying, 'It has these amazing dance schools. It has these amazing colleges.

"It's got these brilliant universities. It's got the amazing diverse community which is quite sort of integrated and it's near the countryside. It's got this industrial past. It's got a great creative scene, So I feel like I'm always on the Leeds tourist board kind of thing."

Corinne is in a relaxed chatty mood and this writer is keen to know what the city means to her.

"I feel like a lot of people know me but because there's no kind of novelty, so I feel like it's not a place where loads of people come running up to me on a night out or that sort of thing. I feel like people turn around and be like, 'yeah, there's Corinne again.' I'm always here.' Or someone's always got 'my cousin went to Brownies'. There's always a link. So, I think I feel very protected here. I feel like it's a place that I can be myself and relax and, sit in a restaurant, go out dancing, any of that stuff."

You detect an empathy as she talks pointing out and championing the city's multiculturalism as well as its rich history and heritage. She also seems acutely aware of a two speed city made up of haves and have nots.