Mika admits: "I'm a sh*t pianist"

Mika has claimed that he could never make it as a classical artist because he is a "sh*t pianist".

The star, who released EP 'Songs For Sorrow' last week, was briefly enrolled at the prestigious Royal College of Music in London before deciding to focus on a pop career.

"I know I'm a sh*t pianist - one of the worst I've ever met who does my job - and a mediocre classical singer," he told The Observer.

"I tried to hide it from my peers at college but I knew what I wanted out of it. I have no delusions of grandeur. I know that I write pop songs, and I know that I am meant to be doing what I am doing because I realised it made me tick as a little boy."

The 25-year-old added that his mum recognised his musical potential when he was at an early age and sought private tuition to develop his piano and singing skills.

"From the age of about ten, my mum made me practise every day. She was extremely tough with me," he said.

"She realised that my oddness had some sort of purpose. She realised how I was very insular as a child. Socially extremely insular, but creatively, extremely loud.

"She realised that for me not to end completely f**ked up, she had to help me."

Mika releases the follow-up to debut album Life In Cartoon Motion in September.