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But at this phase of my life, I want to write and not have to think about whether a song is going to be a hit. I want to explore the music that inspires me, and I don't want to ape myself.

My inspiration is always what I think my fans want to listen to. I often write about social problems. If I'm not going through it or I haven't gone through it, I want to make sure it touches someone. That's what I base my music on.

But when I hear a great song, I can't help but be inspired by it, regardless of whatever genre that song falls under.

Songwriting is a very mysterious process. It feels like creating something from nothing. It's something I don't feel like I really control.

Factoring in millions of people when I'm writing a song is not a good idea. I don't ever do it.

I don't want to think that anything is off limits for me to write about, but I also don't want to intrude on anybody's life, which is why there's very little specificity or names in the songs I write.

The way I write my songs is that I have to believe what I'm writing about, and that's why they always end up being so personal - because the kind of artists I like, they convince me, they totally win me over straight away in that thing. Like, 'Oh my God, this song is totally about me.'

I'm a songwriter. Everything affects me.

It's very hard for me to think about my songs and attribute some significance to them.