The rising pop star dishes on songwriting, her new single, and the time she made Sam Smith cry.

If there’s one thing Tori Kelly knows how to do, it’s hustle. The 22-year-old singer-songwriter has spent the past few years building a following through appearances on competition singing shows, self-released EPs, YouTube covers, Vine freestyles, and more. All that hard work is finally paying off with the release of the lead single off her upcoming debut album, “Nobody Love.” The brassy Max Martin-produced track has all the makings of a pop smash so get to know the curly-haired cutie before she blows up later this year.

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What's something ~nobody knows~ about your single "Nobody Love"?

Tori Kelly: We rewrote the lyrics three different times.

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What did you learn from being a competitor on Star Search, America's Most Talented Kids, and American Idol?

TK: I learned how to talk to people as myself. Watching back all those different shows that I did, it’s really easy to put up a wall and be like, I’m in artist mode now. Those shows really taught me that it comes off way better when you just walk in as yourself.

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You opened for Sam Smith! What was the most memorable moment of that tour?

TK: I thought it was so sweet every time he would say thank you on stage because you don't have to do that, you don't have to thank your opener in front of everyone. Oh! He loves "Paper Hearts," he told me he cried during it.

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