Example has revealed his secret to writing new tunes – working backwards.

The rapper, whose real name Elliot Gleave, drops new single 'Stay Awake' on Monday (August 22) and his new album 'Playing In The Shadows' on September 4.

Example said in an interview with The Daily Star: “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.

“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.

“Actually, 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.”

He admitted: “I’ve learned my craft in seven years so now I can just go out and kill it.

“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.”

“I’m booked for early next year but it’s reserved based on how this album goes. If we can go from like 300 people to 18,000 in two years, with seven singles and two albums in the middle, I’d be proud of that achievement.”

On his new album, Example revealed:

“This album has 14 tracks, but I wrote 16 and the two that didn’t make it are huge ballads, so they didn’t fit the vibe.

“I’ve sent one over to The Wanted but I don’t know whether it’s going on their album or not.”

Watch Example's interview at Beach Break Live here: