Mind of Mine

Part of the tension I was feeling around the release of Mind of Mine was definitely a build-up of excitement. Whenever I had released tracks or albums before, I had shared the buzz with the boys in the band. But with Mind of Mine, the anticipation was way more intense. I was buzzing. Not because I was super-confident – that type of indestructible self-belief just isn’t me – but because I was desperate to discover once and for all if I was deluded about my ability to make a good record on my own. I wanted to hear what my fans thought. And, of course, I hoped that it would attract a new bunch of people who like the music for what it was. It was kind of like that feeling you get in your stomach when you don’t yet know if someone you really like feels the same way about you.

When Mind of Mine came out it went to number one in both the UK and the US, and I couldn’t have been more psyched. That day was amazing. Just like the release of “Pillowtalk,” it’s one of those days I’ll never forget. My management team came round with this massive bunch of balloons in the shape of the number 1. Then a few of us went and had proper fish and chips at the Pikey, a British pub in LA. After that, we went out for drinks and just chilled. All our hard work had paid off. I felt like I could just be me, like people were interested in it. I was so happy that people still wanted to buy my music. I’d had no idea whether that would actually happen. It was a huge relief. My fans, family and friends had helped me to make that leap, and I’m insanely grateful to all of them. I had achieved what I set out to do with this first album and it had given my life new purpose. And I had learned so much and had a blast along the way. Having a number-one album was the crazy, happy result of being able to really push my creative limits, trusting that it would come off, and collaborating with awesome, talented people who are encourage, inspired and believed in me. You know who you are. Gratitude.