My five favourite bars...Shola Ama

R&B star Shola Ama, still only 21, was discovered at the age of 15 singing in Hammersmith Tube station, on her way to visit a boyfriend who had been jailed for car theft. Since then, she has won a Brit Award and two MOBO Awards. Her new single, "Run to You", is released in July.

R&B star Shola Ama, still only 21, was discovered at the age of 15 singing in Hammersmith Tube station, on her way to visit a boyfriend who had been jailed for car theft. Since then, she has won a Brit Award and two MOBO Awards. Her new single, "Run to You", is released in July.

Bar Sly Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles

I was in LA recording last summer and I spent a lot of my spare time here. I loved it, it has a really long bar, and a huge dancefloor, which is cool because they play a lot of funky stuff. It just has such a good vibe. I met loads of nice people in there from all over the States. The only bad thing is that, like everywhere else in LA, it shuts at 2am.

Atlantic Bar 20 Glasshouse Street, London W1 (tel: 020 7734 4888)

This is a lovely, lovely bar. It's so theatrical and plush with its high ceilings and comfy red seats. I love coming down the stairs - it feels like you've arrived in style, very dramatic. I've been so often that the staff know me, and they put my CD on whenever I'm there. If I'm with one friend, I prefer the intimacy of Dick's Bar, but if I'm with a lot of people we'll go into the main bar. They do great strawberry champagne. I'm quite bad and can end up leaving my credit card behind the bar. My biggest bill in one night was about £800. We went a bit silly really. The lady in the toilet is my friend too. She's really cool.

ZD Bar 289 Kilburn High Road, London NW6 (tel: 020 7372 2544)

This is close to where I live and it's my favourite local spot. I started going when it first opened - I know the people who run it and it was like, wow, a decent bar on Kilburn High Road. The last time I was in there the Backstreet Boys were having a party. Dani Behr and Emma Bunton were there as well. It was quite weird to be at a party like that and then go out of the door and find yourself on Kilburn High Road! I guess it just goes to show that it doesn't really matter where a bar is, as long as it's good.

Buddha Bar 8 Buossy Dans Glas, Paris 75008 (tel: 00 33 15 30 59 000)

This is absolutely fantastic: there's a real Eastern theme to it, and a huge iron Buddha sitting right in the middle. I first visited the place three years ago, on my first trip to France as a singer. I was introduced to it by some people from my record company, and I still like to conduct my business there whenever I'm in Paris. The food is brilliant, and the dark, trendy design gives it a great atmosphere. I always sneak a look at the guest book while I'm there because it's packed with famous names: Jennifer Lopez, Puff Daddy, Will Smith, Wesley Snipes - they've all been. It's where Jimmy Gulzar proposed to Mel B.

Cube Bar 135 Finchley Rd, London NW3 (tel: 020 7483 2393)

I went to school in Swiss Cottage, so going into the Cube Bar is like a blast from the past. All my old friends hang out there and it's got an amazing basement where everyone dances. It's the sort of place you can actually go to on your own and always meet someone you know. Everyone's there for the music, and I always have a really good time. There's an excellent DJ on Fridays who plays rare groove and soul. It used to be a Barclay's Bank, and they've kept the first three letters of the old sign outside. They should have left the cash machines as well really.