Alicia Keys: Family life makes me honest

Alicia Keys is more honest about her feelings now she is a wife and mother.

The 'Girl on Fire' hitmaker - who has son Egypt, two, with husband Swizz Beats - says family life has made her more sure of herself and more comfortable than ever on stage.

She said: 'Stepping into motherhood and becoming a wife, I've definitely become more confident. I can express my feelings more honestly.

'When you're trying to find your way, you hold so much back. Now that wall has gone, I've really stepped into myself. I am able to be more vulnerable and more composed. I just feel calm and comfortable with the shows now.

Alicia married Swizz - whose real name is Kasseem Dean - three years ago, and says it was 'divine' to realise she had a 'beautiful connection' with her former school friend.

She added in an interview with the Daily Mirror newspaper: 'Strangely enough we've known each other for 12 years - since high school.

'Years later, realising we had a beautiful connection together was just divine.'

The 32-year-old beauty also admits it was her producer spouse who first made her think seriously about having children.

She said: 'It's made everything a deeper, fuller experience in every way. I'd thought about it before but it wasn't really on my radar until I met the love of my life.'