Hitmaker John Legend has revealed that music now, more than ever, has a responsibility to "reflect the times that you're living in". 

Speaking at a TimesTalk event this week, Legend explained that creating art at the moment means that it's likely to be influenced by events happening in the world because we're in such a transitional and worrying period of time: "I think we have to be honest in our songs. I always quote Nina Simone that it's an artist's duty to reflect the times that you're living in."

"It doesn't mean that every song has to be political, but it does mean you should be honest with how you're feeling and what's important to you. If that incorporates what's happening in presidential politics and national politics, then so be it."

"I think a lot of us as artists are going to be reflecting on what's happening in Washington right now. We don't know what's going to happen yet. The thing about that guy [Donald Trump] is that he's very unpredictable, he made a lot of promises but I don't know if he intends to keep them. Some of his promises are terrible, so I hope he doesn't keep them. I'm not clear on what his presidency is going to be so I'm not clear on how artists are going to respond, including myself."

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Watch footage of John Legend performing live below: