You only have to read the credits on Jamelia's album Thank You to realise how much she values friends and family.
The list of thank yous is as long as the M6 - but then the 23-year-old will be the first to admit she's been given a second bite at the cherry.
Discovered aged 15 and signed to Parlophone, Jamelia released her first single at 19, only to have to put her career on hold when she became pregnant and gave birth to daughter Teja, now three.
With the success of singles Superstar and Thank You (both ubiquitous on radio stations over the last six months), the album and new single See It In A Boy's Eyes out on July 12 (which she co-wrote with Coldplay's Chris Martin), the future's never been brighter - or busier - for the young girl from Handsworth: "My family, my record label, my management and friends - I feel there are so many people that contribute to my career and so many people that I'm indebted to," says Jamelia.
"You have to realise there's 24 hours in a day so I've always got time for family and friends even if it's just a phone call.
"To be quite honest this is something I've been working at for years, so I've had enough time to myself for 23 years," she laughs.
"So I'll sleep when I'm dead!"
The sexy, sassy, leggy singer strutting her stuff at the Brits, Prince's Trust and, later this summer at Party In The Park and V Festival, is a far more self-assured woman than the teenager who first performed in record bosses' offices some eight years ago.
Despite missing out on a Brit award this year, Jamelia's place at pop's top table looks set to be a regular booking for the next few years; with Canada (July) and the States (January 2005) next in her sights, Jamelia is set to give the likes of Beyoncé a run for their money: "I've learned to be more demanding, to be more honest definitely," she says.
"To work hard, to really focus on what my goal is; when I did my first album I was between the ages of 15 and 18, so it's not the normal thing to be in control - but between the ages of 18 and 23 I've had a lot of situations where I've had to take control, so now getting back into the music industry has been something that has been less of a shellshock to me, so I'm just enjoying a lot more this time around.
"A busy schedule is the understatement of the year!" she giggles.
"My schedule is absolutely ridiculous, but this is what I've been working towards, so there's no room to complain - I'm really enjoying it, and things are happening beyond my wildest dreams, so many amazing opportunities are arising for me - at the moment it's great to be me!"
Catch Jamelia at Wolverhampton's Wulfrun Hall on June 9. The new single See It In A Boy's Eyes is out on July 12. | 
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