Everyone loves a comeback story, and everyone loves the underdog as well. I kind of feel like I've been the underdog. Hopefully that inspires people to not give up on themselves and their lives and not give up on their dreams.
James Arthur
I've made mistakes, and I'm very aware of them, and I've tried to better myself from those mistakes.
Anxiety is a really crippling condition, and I suffer with it myself, and I feel for anyone who suffers from it. The way that I deal with it is try as much as possible to stay in the moment to not think about the past and not think about what's coming up in the future: to try and just seize the moment as much as possible.
I've found a way to live in the here and now.
Everybody's gone through some kind of struggle in their life, and I'd like to be the type of voice who talks about it.
I want to say sorry for abusing my position as an 'X Factor' winner because I owe everything to this thing.
I got ideas above my station, and I made mistakes.
I think Sam Smith's dad got a huge loan or something to help his career. Those things can help artists get attention, but I guess my song 'Say You Won't Let Go' proved it's about the song.
I have been through and seen so many dramas and traumas and been in so many situations that I can probably interpret a few different characters.
I've always maintained a good relationship with Simon Cowell, and obviously I have a great respect for him, and his show provided me with a platform to reach a lot of people, so I have the upmost respect for Simon Cowell.
I'm not much of a public speaker.
I'm a positive guy, even if I don't smile a lot.
I have nothing but respect for 1D. They are great lads.
If you haven't got help, all you can do is make good music.
I just think you have got to bring out good music.
I think a lot of things get blown out of proportion in the media.
There are many things people don't know about me, and maybe when they read about those things, they will have an understanding of the journey I have been on, why I've made the mistakes I have, and hopefully help other people overcome their adversities.
Everyone wrote me off, including me.
I want to put out music I really believe in, and when I felt that was threatened, I lashed out at everybody.
Kurt Cobain is one of the reasons I started doing music because I just loved to watch them rock out.
I think Justin Bieber and Zayn have both been listening to me a lot, and they basically wanna be me.
Inside, I'm optimistic.
I was on the dole.
I don't think about consequences too much.
I have regrets, but you live and learn.
It's all about respect. I'm not going to treat a woman like a piece of meat.
It can feel like your whole world is caving in on you, and if you don't speak about it, it gets worse. You have to talk about your problems.
I'm always going to have to manage my mental health issues.
One of my fans made a lifelike doll of me. It was incredible - it looked just like me - but an effigy is kinda weird.
I felt like I couldn't wallow in self-pity forever. I can't beat myself up forever.
I didn't realise how devastating my behavior could be - looking back, I'm very embarrassed. I just buckled under the anxiety.
Not only was I an 'X Factor' winner that got dropped by Syco - and when that happens, you're never heard of again - but everyone thought I was a clown.
I have the words 'love' and 'life' on my knuckles, and I would half like those removed.
The thing is, I knew from the very first audition that I did not fit the classic 'X Factor' criteria.
I'm just achieving goals left, right and centre, and I just feel incredibly lucky because I never thought it would happen.
'The X Factor' saved me.
I got offered loads of reality shows, including 'I'm A Celebrity' and 'Celebrity Big Brother.'
When you find fame, or you get signed to a record label, it's not what you imagined - because you imagined they would have 100 percent trust or faith in you as an artist. Unfortunately, that's not really the case - it's what sells.
There is a lot of pressure on pop stars, and I think a lot of it is the pressure that we put on ourselves. In our minds, we build up these huge, huge standards that we think people want from us, and actually, when you break it down, people just want you to make music and perform to the best of your ability, but anxiety can stop you from doing that.
Yes I got into things with girls who only liked me because of who I was. But I learnt my lesson quickly.
Having watched 'X Factor' over the years, they just haven't got it right. The male winners haven't been believable. They look like puppets; they sound like puppets.
Romance and girls I don't talk about anymore: it's off limits. I just want to keep it private.
I'd like to think that maybe the average person is rational, and they realise that I'm not this crazy monster that, at times, I've been perceived to be.
People had told me to try 'The X Factor' for years, but I thought I'd be moody and hate it all. But it's what I needed. I asked Mum and Dad to come to my 'X Factor' audition, and it was the first time that they'd been in the same room in years.
When I've got a girlfriend, I like to be with them as much as possible, and I'm very affectionate.
I've always thought I'm pretty ugly.
I'm a big UFC fan.
I often think about starting a band again, doing my solo stuff and a band. I grew up in bands.
Being in bands and plugging away with not many opportunities and no money for many years really shaped me and taught me about work ethic.
I can't go on Tinder; I'll get in trouble.
