Ed Sheeran "fell out of love" with his new album.
The star has been working with producer Rick Rubin on his untitled second record, which follows 2011's debut, +.
While his fans are holding their breath in anticipation, Ed wasn't always so taken with his latest tracks.
"It was one of these things that I fell in and out of love with," he admitted to BBC Radio 1's Zane Lowe.
"He [Rick] re-energised me to be excited about the album again.
"[It was] coming at the songs from a different direction and making sure they had the live vibe as well as the actual song craft."
Ed, 22, took some time out from making music to support his pal Taylor Swift on the American leg of her Red Tour.
He thinks stepping away from the UK was the right career move.
"I think if I'd have come back with a second record instantly, there wouldn't have been any excitement," he reasoned.
"Although it was important to give myself a break I think it was also important to give the public a break as well."
While in the US, Ed played three shows in New York's Madison Square Garden.
He also worked a little on his second record.
"I had to put down the ground work there that I put down in England as well and it gave me time to really write a good second record," he explained.
Ed recently announced a UK arena tour for October 2014.
He will play 12 shows in total, starting in Dublin on 6 and finishing in Glasgow on October 30.
