I love the idea of Pro Tools, but it doesn't seem as attractive to me in terms of the music-making side. It's great for recording, but with Logic you get the best of both worlds, the ability to do great tracking and producing something that sounds great as well.
My mates are absolute nutters. They're all Essex boys in the true sense and they definitely keep my feet on the ground.
Before I hit any country I always do my research. I look at what's on the chart there, what's worked in the last few years. As a deejay, as a producer, that's when I get editing. I bring my own edits of tracks that are really cool and happening out there.
Especially when I finish one of my songs I play it to my friends who are just normal people and not people in the music business.
It's the worst feeling, going into your record label when you haven't got a hit. It was like: 'Maybe you've lost it.' And, once you're done, that's it. There's no support, or anyone to help you.
I think when 'Perfect Strangers' landed and was so well received, it was a magic moment.
The 'I Wanna Dance' hook actually came to me when I was in bed and just in that lucid moment between consciousness and sleep... I jumped out of bed and recorded a voice note of the vocal hook and I went into the studio the next day fully inspired.
I've always wanted to collaborate with Shawn Mendes, he's an amazing artist, but the thing with Shawn is that I won't collaborate... me just sending some beats. It has to be in the studio where we'd both be there recording together.
I'm always up for collaborating with people who are slightly leftfield.
I was a musician first of all.
Well after 'Fast Car' was so huge, everyone was asking me, 'What's the next song?' At the time I just had ideas I was working on, but it was very clear I needed to finish another song ASAP, and that's how 'Perfect Strangers' came about.
I played the Azteca Stadium in Mexico to 100,000 people - that's something I never thought I'd do.
I've tried to write songs that just make people feel happy and good.
When I was seven years old I played the flute, then by 11 I quit being a musician and got into Djing.
It's great to see Latino music coming to the mainstream, but at the same time, there are also a lot more styles to explore: African music, Indian music, Chinese music.
Definitely India is one place I'd love to travel to and play.
I prank my manager. I tell him I've lost my passport, or I've lost my case, or I hide his case. He is so gullible, he is the most gullible person ever.
I've gone through a lot of 'nos' from record labels but I've built a great team along the way and that's the best thing you can have - people around you who believe in you and drive you forward.
Albums are great but for an artist like me, I don't think albums are the way to go.
The concept of 'Blue' is to transport its listeners to a different world with music. And I chose to release a full-length album because it enables me to experiment with many different production styles, not just a single sound, and take listeners on a journey.
