“Clown’ was written when I couldn’t find anyone who believed in me as an artist. Maybe those labels will think twice next time a young songwriter comes along.”

Melody is the first thing that comes to me when I’m songwriting. I learned piano classically first, and then I went into soul, and so melody has always been the first. It’s so important.

I couldn’t help but feel very different from everybody, so I think that’s why I found such a big world in music, and that’s why I kind of – I was an introvert as a kid, but I loved the piano, and that’s where I felt at home.

From when I was a kid I wanted to write. It was so important to me that I was writing my own material.

People that come to my shows are definitely people that feel outsiders. They feel like I don’t feel sexy, I don’t feel like – I can’t go out every night on Friday and I can’t connect to that, and I feel so much pressure to do that.

I feel like ‘Next To Me’ is a great introduction because it’s a simple song that has a simple message for me. I wanted to introduce something that lyrically I’m proud of and introduces me both as an artist and as a writer.

Any song I have to work on longer than a day, I just leave it. It’s not gonna work. Everything that’s good is really instant.

I try to speak of a love that not necessarily romantic. I think there is so much love between people and so much love people want to give but it’s harder and harder these days to show that, to celebrate that, you know?

I wanted to make an album that melodically people can connect to; something that reflects our times and the kinds of difficulties we face.

I tried to bang down a lot of doors but Virgin were the only label who believed in what I was doing. I ended up with the label that understood what I was trying to do.

The focus is on singer/songwriters now rather than huge shows. I mean, of course there’s always a place for that too.

I mean, there’ll always be room for big productions and everything but it’s good to see the other side.

Anytime I write something that’s trying to be too smart, it doesn’t work.

I always knew I wanted to be a musician, and I always knew I wanted to write, ’cause the people I was listening to all wrote. I never thought it was an option to sing anyone else’s songs.

I’m not too bothered about what category my music goes in and there’s no point in limiting in who you can reach, but I want it to be respected.

It would be sad if we lost our instinct and our courage to love and protect.

Songwriting is my main thing. I know that I’ll do that for the rest of my life.