Example: 'I wrote songs backwards in new album'

Example has revealed that he wrote songs backwards for his new album.

The Playing in the Shadows rapper, who topped the singles chart for the first time this year with 'Change The Way You Kiss Me', also emphasised the importance of song titles to his listeners.

He told the Daily Star: "I work backwards from the song title. If you've got an epic song title, people can get an idea of what the song is about before they've heard it - and it means something to them.

"I used to try and write with the beat and now, before I even start writing, I've got a song title in my head, and I apply that to some music in the studio with the producer and build the song with them.

"I didn't have the big songs before but now I know what suits me and can hear a beat instantly and know whether it suits me."

The star - whose real name is Elliot Gleave - also boasted of his success in the music industry so far.

"I've learned my craft in seven years so now I can just go out and kill it," he said. "I've gone down the old fashioned route of building a fan base by sticking a band on tour and getting them to do 200 gigs, which isn't the normal route for a rapper, singer or urban dance act.

"I've done almost 1,000 gigs in the last seven years supporting everyone from Plan B, Tinchy, Lily Allen, Faithless, Calvin and The Streets."

Example's forthcoming LP Playing with Shadows will be released on September 4, while single 'Stay Awake' is out on Monday.

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Watch Example's video for 'Stay Awake' below: