The biggest lesson is that you write the best songs when you're being real, an honest and you mean what you're saying, not trying to be something you're not.

I have always struggled with expressing emotion, I used to think I was a very hard person but music has shown me I'm a big softy! Writing songs to me really is like writing a diary, it's very private and very personal. My most emotional songs have been written alone in a locked room, I'm able to express myself there.

The best advice came from my manager, Anne, who told me to never compare myself to other people and to be true to myself. There's so many talented people out there in the world of music it can be intimidating, and she taught me to be inspired by talent and not scared of it.