James Blake: Criticism drives me

James Blake likes getting fans' feedback, even if it's negative.

The English singer-songwriter has been making music since 2009, garnering critical acclaim around the world.

He's bagged himself a prestigious Ivor Novello Award and the Mercury Prize, plus Grammy and Brit nominations in the past. Despite his success, James doesn't mind hearing back from people who aren't fans.

"Yeah, I enjoy the feedback. And the feedback hurts sometimes as well. I'm very vulnerable when it comes to feedback," James told the American edition of GQ magazine. "'Don't read the Internet' is one great piece of advice that I didn't heed. Actually, you know what? I wouldn't give that advice to somebody. Because if I had not read the opinions of people on the Internet, I wouldn't know that a kid in his bedroom thinks that this poem I did is the best thing he's ever heard. And that's very valuable information, because it can justify some things that you actually want to do, and feel natural doing, but don't have the balls to do."

James' previous tracks have focused on loneliness but as he is currently loved up, the theme won't make its way on to new material.

When quizzed on what compels him to make art, the 26-year-old says he's no different from any other musician.

"I think in lyrical terms, and I think in poetical terms. When I look around, I'm in a hotel in Miami, and I've got a good view here, and this kind of view makes me think of lyrics. It makes me think of ways to document what I'm seeing in a way that would be meaningful for me," he outlined.

"I guess that's how I look at the world around me and try to process it. That is pretty much what you could say about virtually every other musician on the planet. You know: Why do I make music? Well, the same f**king reason everyone else does."