Social media is a giant distraction to the ultimate aim, which is honing your craft as a songwriter. There are people who are exceptional at it, however, and if you can do both things, then that's fantastic, but if you are a writer, the time is better spent on a clever lyric than a clever tweet.

Since day one, since the first time I touched the pen, I wanted to be the best at what I do.

A lot of my songs are fantasy. I can dream up all kinds of things. That's the kind of world I live in. It's very sort of flamboyant, and that's the kind of way I write. I love it.

I don't write songs about a specific, elusive thing. I write about love, and everyone knows what it is like to have your heart broken.

I think people appreciate a songwriter who shows different sides. The whole angst thing is cool, but if that's all you've got, it's just boring. Everything I write, whether it's happy or sad, has a sense of humor to it.

I seem to write a lot of sad songs because I'm a very tragic person. But there's always an element of humour at the end.