How did it all start? When did your musical career become serious?

I’d say my musical career became serious around age 16, when I dropped out school and moved of home; that’s how it’d become serious… And it all started kicking off around two years ago.

What is your musical background? Which artists inspire you?

My musical background is mainly kind of folk music and hip-hop so I was influenced by a lot of folk. From my dad, who played me a lot of Springsteen, Bob Dylan, etc.

And I listen to a lot of hip-hop which is range from UK to American rappers… I guess that’s where my influences come from.

What circumstances or events make you write songs?

The inspiration behind any song is just usually a good story. It’s usually something like a personal experience, something that would have had happened to me. I just write about that.

What kind of impact do you expect music to have on people?

I don’t really intend my music to have a sort of impact on anyone, I guess people can just take it for what it is, I’m not trying to push anything into anyone, I am just trying to make music that I like, and if people like it back, then that’s the main thing.

Do you think European music is somehow different - from American music, for example?

I don’t think any kind of music is different from anything else, I think all music comes from feelings and expression of self and that kind of works all around the world, so I’d say my music is similar to American music, much like American music is similar to UK music, much like UK music is similar to French music, or Spanish music, or anything else. It’s all just reflection of self and emotions.

About music videos: the video for “The A Team” has more than 30 millions views on Youtube, and Rupert Grint stars in the clip of “Lego House”.  Do you like to be involved in the creation of video clips like these?

I think the trick with music videos is not seeing it to promote the song, I think if you see music videos as a separate art form, and you have a song which is a work of art, and you have a video,  and instead of just making a video that just kind of complements the song,  you should make a different thing that kind of stands out in its own,  so if you turn the music off it will still be interesting, That’s how I try to work videos.

How was to make a video where Rupert Grint appears as an obsessive fan of yourself?

The video with Rupert Grint was fun, we filmed a gig of mine in Hatfield: I went off stage, and then I was meant to come back on for my own call, and then he came on instead, which was… funny! It was fun to watch the crowd’s reaction.

Your success came early in your life, how do you live with that?

I haven’t really had a stable life, fixed address or stable kind of job since I started, which is around 16. So the success that I’ve had… I’m still doing the same thing that I was doing when I was 16, I am still playing music and doing gigs, so I just get to travel the world and get paid for it, so it’s not different to be honest.

How did you collaboration with Snow Patrol began?

With Snow Patrol, the tour happened because I did a gig with them in Switzerland, we were playing with Lenny Kravitz and --, the lead singer, slipped a note under my door that said “Ed, we’d like you to have a drink with us”, so I had a drink with them after the gig, and then they just said “Come on tour with us.” So… here I am.

What are your projects now?

My projects now... I am pushing my debut album in America at the moment, it comes out in June; and I have got my first single “The A Team”, which is out there and yet just walking out on radios; so that’s the main projects I am focusing on.