I try to create an image to suit my music. These days, you have to create your own personal brand as an artist. It's not about just putting music out any more unfortunately.
I've learned not turning things up to full volume is a good idea. Also, because I have the freedom, sometimes when I'm writing a song I'll get carried away with production when I'm only on the first verse, and that sacrifices the songwriting.
So I just sat in bed for six months - I literally didn't leave the house - and it was the first time that I'd actually experienced being depressed. I'd be sad on and off but I'd never experienced actual depression. Like, crying for no reason. It was really horrible.
I had basically been shelved by the record label for two years and I was writing songs every day. I made two albums that just never came out, and that was just a really big knock to my confidence, because everything I sent seemed like it just wasn't good enough.
When I got dropped, no one really wanted to work with me... I felt like my career was over and I didn't really know what to do.
As an introvert, you have to spend a lot of time with me and then little bits of my personality will come out over time. But as an artist, sometimes you only get five minutes to impress someone, so it is kind of hard.
My tenth-ever gig was in an arena, which is mad... I remember being backstage with multiple artists there and someone had had their teeth done - like veneers - and I come from a very small village where people are lucky to even have all their teeth.
I took two years out to find what sound I felt passionate about and what I liked making. After the last album, 'Peroxide', which is quite poppy and acoustic, I felt really bored.
Working with other people, it's hard to get them to make it sound like what you have in mind.
I came from a really small village outside Edinburgh in Scotland and had quite a sheltered upbringing.
I picked up the guitar at 15 because of Taylor Swift.
I couldn't get gigs because you need to be 18 in most venues. So I started doing videos. I wasn't thinking about getting a record deal, I just wanted to know if people thought I was good.
I never want people to know who I'm going out with or about my family. But it's difficult, because when people have seen you online since you were 14, they feel like they know you.
I think when I started my first album, I was 17 or 18, so I guess I was basically a child.
I think it's exciting because it pushes you harder to write a great song. Even for established artists, it has to be really good now because people have so many other options.
There's even a feature on my website where you can translate messages into codes, so whenever I have any big news it goes out in code first so the diehard fans are the first to know.
My career is my whole life, so if I'm not happy with that, it affects everything else.
Well, there's this culture on Instagram where everyone uses filters and lighting, or people smooth their skin out. It's this weird thing. We all know it's not real and we all complain about it, yet we all do it.
I don't know if I could lip-sync while waterskiing. I had to do that on horseback and it was a nightmare.
Working with other artists and writers over the past couple years has really given me a clear idea of my strengths and weaknesses and what is unique about me as an artist. I figured it's my storytelling lyrics, falsetto range and tone of voice, so I write songs to utilize those.
