But after failing out of high school when she was 19, she decamped to Los Angeles.
I write songs every day, 14 times a day, she tells EW.
How did it feel being known first in the public as a songwriter before an artist?
Credit: Andrew Lipovsky/NBC
It was sweet because its fing Rihanna.
I havent been shopping records; I havent been in the game a long time.
I come from failing out of school.
It was sweet because shes such an icon in culture today.
I got to skip a lot of steps, you know what I mean?
If Rihanna wouldnt have done what she did in culture as an icon there wouldnt be me.
But it was obviously difficult.
Its hard to give your song away.
Theyre like your kids.
Was that one you wanted to keep?
But its still hard.
Its like you writing up an article and having to give the byline away.
Higher sounds more like some of the songs youve released recently.
Was that one you wanted to keep?
Higher was never designed for me to keep.
I didnt understand the songwriting game at the time.
The way I write music for other artists is the same way I write music for myself.
If I dont use it I give it away.
For Higher, Kanye was like, Work on this beat.
And I went in and did what I would do.
It was hard to give away but it was worth it.
Whats happened since Bitch Better Have My Money came out?
My entire life has changed.
And now, what is it like to release your own music and have people respond to it?
Before I was working professionally, I would do YouTube covers.
But as a creative person, it was really hard for me when I wasnt releasing my own music.
That felt unnatural to me.
I feel like Im doing what Im supposed to be doing.
How did you make the transition from YouTube covers toFallonand Rihanna?
We began to build things, etc, etc.
What was it like to move to Los Angeles?
It felt super urgent, a lot of pressure.
It was lonely sometimes too because I would just be in a studio.
But were here now and I got to the position I could be around my friends again.
Friends from growing up in Berlin?
Have you been writing about that?
I think I subconsciously write about all of that.
I write how I speak.
Where are you with yourFree the Real, your debut project?
Im writing all the songs.
It was like I was subconsciously talking about those girls at my school.
Dont be fing timid.
Stand up for yourself!
Do things for yourself!
Do you hear from your fans on social media about this idea of not being timid?
Yeah, but not being timid doesnt mean you have to be as belligerent or as reckless as me.
I dont want to inspire people to be like me.
What do you want the next few years of your life to look like?
I just want to be happy.
But Im going to do it because its true.
I thought he was a homeless dude.
Like, chill, I dont hate you.
Just fing admit to your sins and we can have a real-ass conversation.
Lets not pretend like were not fing perfect.
What the f has my life even come to?
Two years ago I was failing out of high school.
I wont be happy until the people are happy.
Until I feel like like Ive done something that has actively contributed to humanity.
