Quotes from Calum Scott

I'd gone from being a normal HR worker from Hull to being recognised in the street, being on TV. As much as it was exciting, thrilling, and a big, huge adrenaline rush.

I feel very privileged to do what I do, so I'm just going to keep working hard and enjoy every minute of it because it could be over just like that.

If one less kid can grow up without hiding who they are along the way or having to believe that who they love is something that will make them lonely, then everything I went through will be worth it.

I've used songwriting as a tool, I've used it as a way of being able to talk about how I feel.

The creative process has been a little bit of an experience, really - to try and make that work for me. The only way I know how to do that is just to remain genuine, humble, and true to everything I know already in my life.

'If Our Love Is Wrong' is, quite simply, my coming out song, as I was trying to wrap my head around my sexuality and was starting to learn about songwriting, and that my honesty and my authenticity came from my personal experiences and writing about stuff that genuinely bugged me or upset me.

'No Matter What' is, without question, the most personal song I have ever written and the one I am most proud of.

Being honest to who I am led me to write 'If Our Love Is Wrong,' and that allowed me to fully realize the direction I should be heading to - human nature, real emotions, and issues about LGBT.

When somebody says, 'I don't like your cover'... that's fair enough, but then this person has just written to me and said that they've come out to their family because of my interpretation. So I've got to balance everything. And yeah... that warms my heart.

I come from a very normal day job, a very normal upbringing, so I had six or seven years working in an office nine to five in human resources. I had the normal life and kind of thought maybe this is what I'm going to do for the rest of my life but still had that passion and that yearning for music.

As a singer, you want to connect with as many people as possible; that's my whole thing.

My fans have been incredible since day one... Literally, the only reason I get to do what I do! I love every single one of them, and I am still being discovered by people! Just want to share what I do with everyone!

Since I became more confident, I've thought, 'Right, let me get myself on the market'. So I joined Tinder and Chappie, and it was funny because, at first, the sites thought I was an imposter.

The heart wants what it wants, and you know, if you're not careful, you can find yourself in a situation where you give your heart away, and it can get broken.

I will continue to be open in my music and in interviews and keep those conversations going about the issues we face as an LGBT+ community until those conversations no longer need to be had.

As many of you know, my story begins where most people's in the LGBT+ community begins... with fear. I knew I was different from my peers, my friends, and those around me when I started to discover who I was and who I identified as from a young age.

I am doing something I love, travelling the world, meeting fans, feeling confident, and I am no longer restricted by my sexuality.

I'm very keen on making the world a better place, whether that's changing people's attitudes or giving people the confidence to be who they are.

I'd always been a little bit uncomfortable talking about my sexuality just because it took me a while to fully accept it. I had a bit of traumatic time with my friends when I was younger, and it kind of just put me off talking about it.

My mates who are younger than me are all slagging me for it - saying I am so much older and my crow's feet are showing.

I tried to surround myself with people who have accepted me for being me. And I want to create that image to my fans as well. And that's the advice I give to them. To be happy for who you are, and to surround yourself with people who are happy for being you.

I've tried to write in a way that transcends beyond just sexuality and is more about letting go of our fear and trusting the people around us.

If you're real, you've never got anything to hide away from. You're not trying to fake anything, you're not trying to have this other persona - you're just yourself. And if I could be myself for as long as possible, I will.

Most of my songs are inspired by both falling in love and heartache. And it was a turning point for me as a singer and songwriter as it dawned on me that I wasn't being honest enough about what I truly feel.