HE has barely had a break in recent years, hopping from one tour to the next and spending vast amounts of time away from home.

But as returns today with a new single, Waste My Tears, it’s clear he’s suddenly got a new outlook on life.

Singer James Arthur, with curly dark hair and a beard, wearing a denim shirt, jeans, and a cross necklace.X Factor winner James Arthur opens up about mental health struggles Credit: Jack_Alexander James Arthur holding his daughter Emily at a piano.The singer says his daughter changes his life Credit: Instagram

In an exclusive interview, James tells me: “I haven’t been as OK as maybe people might have perceived.

“I’ve struggled a little bit behind the scenes . . .  I think I always have.

“I beat myself up a lot in the early years. I put a lot of pressure on myself.

“I should have done therapy sooner. I should have tried to fix things within my family and gone about that in a better way, because family is everything and community is everything.”

Chatting to me over Zoom by a pool in sunny Marbella in , it’s clear James has relished having a rare break.

And that is all down to his three-year-old daughter, Emily, who he has been spending cherished time with.

“I’ve dedicated most of the off time this year to her because she’ll start school next year,” the winner explains.

“I’m just trying to make sure I have as much time with her before she’s not a baby any more.

James Arthur performing on stage, wearing a dark red coat and holding a microphone to his mouth.‘I beat myself up a lot in the early years. I put a lot of pressure on myself’, says the star Credit: PA Black and white profile of singer James Arthur looking right, with a large, dark beard and curly hair, wearing a dark jacket, against a building.Being a dad has given James a higher purpose Credit: Jack_Alexander

“It’s heartbreaking sometimes because she’s grown up so fast.”

On the profound impact of fatherhood, James says: “Before I was a dad, I was wrapped up in the validation I would get from the success of my music.

“ has given me a higher purpose.

“I’ll take the success of being a dad over the success of music any day of the week. It’s the best responsibility in the world and has become an anchor for me.”

James’s new single will feature on his as-yet untitled seventh album, which is due to be released next year.

While it’s being kept under wraps for now, James says he’s incredibly proud of it.

The album is the follow-up to last year’s No3 record Pisces, and the singer says he’s hoping to hit a different note.

He explains: “When the last album didn’t connect in the way that I would have liked, it was a real shock to the system.

“I didn’t realise how much I wanted it to work. And I think I had a bit of arrogance really going into that.

“When you’ve had a few hits and stuff, it’s easy to assume that people are going to get the things that you want to make personally for yourself and when that doesn’t happen, it humbles you.

“It gave me a wake up-call. That’s why Waste My Tears felt like the right first record to present to the world from this next chapter for me because it’s very vulnerable and it’s very raw.

“It’s something that we can all relate to. It’s about learning how to like yourself again so you don’t necessarily need this validation from external things.”