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 built a reputation as a songwriter in the industry before my own hits. People were used to coming to me for songs. There were songs like 'Clown' and 'Mountains' that were my songs that I wanted to keep. But the record labels saw me as a songwriter. It was hard to get people to believe in me as an artist.

I wasn't intentionally trying to create my own path or be original, it was just I needed to say certain things and I needed to express myself, and that's how it came out.

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.

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

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.

I was so shy and so quiet, and the only time I had my own voice and I could really connect with people was when I was singing or on stage.