A Q&A with the Oscar-winning singer-songwriter.

Mr John Legend is a very busy man. He’s a new father, he’s got a new album out – Darkness And Light – inspired by the arrival of his daughter, and he stars in La La Land, the smash-hit musical everyone is predicting will sweep to glory in the Oscars. Here, the tuxedo-wearing polymath talks style, guilty pleasures and recurring dreams.

Describe your style.

Similar to my music in that I have a lot of respect for classics and things that are well-made and well-executed, with subtle twists.

Do you have a signature scent?

Tom Ford Black Orchid.

Signature drink?

I usually drink a cabernet. I have my own wine with Raymond Vineyards called LVE. Our signature bottle is a really nice cabernet from Napa Valley. I help blend it, and it’s made perfectly to my taste, so I drink it all the time.

What’s the most “out there” item in your wardrobe?

I have a leather jacket with colourful embroidery on it that I can’t see myself wearing to the grocery store.

What’s your biggest extravagance?

Oh my house, by far. We bought a pretty massive house in Beverly Hills. I don't have a bunch of cars, but we care about having a really nice house and decorating it really well. We definitely spend a lot of money on that.

What’s the best party you’ve ever been to?

Oh man. Well, my wedding was pretty memorable. It was truly fun. Biz Markie DJ’d, and obviously the whole family and all our friends were there. We really just had a good time. Another one worth mentioning is the Inauguration after-party for President Obama in 2013. That was amazing.

Any recurring dreams?

The happiest dreams I have are about flying, where I could just flap my arms and take off. I have that a lot. Then when it comes to anxiety, it’s usually a dream about missing my show. For some reason, I can’t get there, and everybody is waiting.

Which movie do you never get tired of watching?

Coming To America and Wedding Crashers.

The book that changed your life?

The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander. It really got me to understand the mass incarceration problem in America, and motivated me to start doing something publicly about it.

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?

I kiss my wife [model Ms Chrissy Teigen]. Then I usually go down and work out in the gym. We have a gym in the house now, so it’s very convenient.

Which app can’t you live without?

I play Words With Friends. That’s my little video-game vice on my phone.

Name a place everyone should visit before they die.

A place that’s special to us is Lake Como in Italy. We got married there, shot the “All Of Me” video there, and we were just there for our last vacation in the summer. That place is special to us, and it’s one of the most beautiful places on earth.

What would you say to your 17-year-old self?

Oh I would say, “Take risks. Be fearless.”

La La Land is in cinemas now

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