Interview Qa Format

Q: Can you describe your connection to this home and property? [00:00:23]

Interviewee: This is my sanctuary. I bought this place when I was 21 after my mum insisted I invest in property. Over the last 13 years, I’ve expanded it significantly. I even planted 14,000 trees back in 2013, which is becoming a proper forest now. It’s where I come to decompress after every tour, and it’s where I’ve written most of my songs. Even with security, once you're inside, it's so calm and safe.

Q: How do you separate your creative workspace from your family life? [00:04:15]

Interviewee: We used to rent country houses to build temporary studios because I feel like rooms have songs in them. Eventually, I built a studio just up the road. It’s perfect because I get to commute to work, which helps maintain a boundary. When the cameras are off, I head back to the family space. However, I love that my kids come to the studio; they watch us play instruments and hear the songs. It's nice for them to see the creative process.

Q: You mentioned having a difficult year when we spoke in New York. How have you moved through that? [00:07:07]

Interviewee: 2023 was a heavy year, but I’ve been reflective since then. I think big life events often clump together for all of us. I eventually got into a rhythm on tour where I was only playing one show a week. It wasn't the best financial decision, but it gave me six days at home in between to sit with my grief and decompress. Grief is something that’s always with you, but it softens with time. I’m in a good rhythm now, playing on weekends and being home during the week.

Q: How do you handle the pressure of being a successful artist while newer talent emerges? [00:11:06]

Interviewee: I think you can either be weird about it or become friends and act as sounding boards for each other. I've met artists like Shawn Mendes and Lewis Capaldi early on, and I choose to root for my contemporaries. It’s much easier to be supportive if you're actually friends with them. I think if you're successful in anything, you should look at the next generation and be excited to lift them up rather than feel bitter.

Q: Why do you think your music has had such a different reception from critics compared to the massive success you've had with fans? [00:17:34]

Interviewee: The music industry is a massive school playground, and there are "cool kids" and "uncool kids." I’ve always been on the uncool side. I’ve made my peace with the fact that my mind was likely made up by critics since day one. I don't focus on the awards or the noise; I focus on the human interaction. Sitting in a studio and writing music with artists I admire—like Eminem or Dave—means more to me than any trophy.

Q: Looking ahead, you've mentioned future albums titled "Rewind," "Stop," and "Eject." What do those chapters represent? [00:28:44]

Interviewee: "Eject" is actually in my will; it’s a plan to release a curated collection of my 10 best songs from age 18 onwards after I pass away, so the estate doesn't just jumble them up randomly. As for "Stop," I don't necessarily mean the end of my creativity, but perhaps taking a break or changing how I operate. I fantasize about disappearing sometimes, but I also love what I do. I just want to grow old with grace.

Q: You’ve returned to a solo loop pedal show for your new tour. Why go back to basics? [00:32:38]

Interviewee: After the "Mathematics" tour, I wanted to strip it back. I’ve ticked the boxes of the massive stage shows with fireworks and flames. I asked myself what I’m best at, and it’s the solo loop pedal show. It’s the core of who I am—a ginger-haired singer-songwriter with a small guitar who would play anywhere. That’s the reality I’m getting back to.