'Post-Arthur, I've been more focused on trying to get myself balanced again and my nervous system back to normal.

Goulding formerly managed her anxiety with exercise – long-distance runs, high-intensity interval training – but that hasn't been possible, and so she's had to readjust again. The arrival of a child, however welcome, is a huge upheaval.

Rings: Persée Paris, Annoushka, Cece Jewellery Earrings: Maria Tash, Roxanne First, Kirstie Le Marque. Her last album, Brightest Blue, was more personal – all nature and relationships – but this one is her doing what she thinks she is best at: big, shiny pop songs. It pours out of her new album, Higher Than Heaven, for which I think the technical term is absolute banger. One thing she does well is pure pop music. 'My new thing is that I have to acknowledge how well I've done.' She also talks about her at times crippling chronic anxiety – so bad, you have to say she's done well to remain where she is.

In the course of our conversation, Goulding proves reflective, intelligent and surprising (she wants to make an album of classical music, she hadn't heard of Fleetwood Mac until she was 18 and she really does know a lot about ocean biodiversity). 'It's great, I don't get recognised as much.' 'I've never had so many compliments about anything,' she says. She's sporting a Stella McCartney puffer jacket and new brunette hairdo, having been blonde for most of her adult life. We're sitting on chairs on a balcony outside the photo studio, looking over wintry London, seagulls and crows circling in the cold blue sky.

I t ' s a horrible feeling that used to dictate my life When you panic, you think you are going to die.

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