This series asks songwriters to describe their writing process and what influences them. Here, American singer-songwriter Sean Rowe.
"I like knowing what's behind the door. I like things that are raw, from the heart.
I know when [a song] is wrong, forced. It's an internal voice that tells me 'this is crap or worthwhile.'
"A lot of what I write is on the guitar – it's my primary instrument. A lot of times, it will be a feeling I get. There won't be words to it, just a simple chord structure. Then I'll get a feeling about the song. I might not know what it's about yet, but I'll get the feeling of it. Then it's a matter of trust.
"I have certain parameters that I work with when writing. I'm trying to convey something without necessarily always coming out and saying it. But there's a line – there's a grey area. You want to connect with people but not make it too obscure. You can be raw and emotional and extremely direct, but sometimes it's not that interesting. It can be real, but not interesting. I can only be speculative if people are reactive to what I write. I do sit down and think about if it's interesting to me, the content – but if it's deeper than the surface.
"I generally write on the road, on tour. I've never really written by going into a room. A room with my coffee cup – that doesn't work for me."
• Sean Rowe's new album, The Salesman and the Shark, is available now.
Previously in this series:
How I Write: Glen Hansard