Congratulations on your new album, Surfers Paradise. Can you tell me a bit about making the album?
Sure, the album was written slowly over the past 12 months. It’s been a bit of a process where we put together and choose the best songs that we worked on.

Cody Simpson's Album, Surfers Paradise. Photo: Facebook

What kind of music is it going to feature? Is it going to be sort of the same feel as your previous work?
Not really. It’s a little more relaxed. I feel like now I’ve really discovered where I want to be musically and artistically. I feel like in the past I haven’t known exactly what I want to do. I now feel that really I have  discovered myself and I think that is really reflected in the album. 

How did you go about choosing a title for the album?
I wanted to stay in the theme of paradise. I also wanted something that would stay true to myself, to my home town and my lifestyle. I thought that Surfer’s Paradise was exactly that cause I grew up on the Gold Coast and I felt that it reflected the sound.

What is your idea of paradise?
Honestly just days back home on the Gold Coast with my friends surfing and stuff, I really miss my lifestyle back home. I get to go back once a year to catch up with everybody, but you know, I miss it a lot.

Are there some Australianisms that your American friends find a bit weird?
There is certain things that I say that my crew like have adopted which has been cool.

Have you introduced them much to Australian food, like Vegemite?
I have, I have asked people to try it and no-one really likes it, unfortunately! 

Do you have a favourite song off the album?
I like all of them differently, they are all special to me in different ways, I love Pretty Brown Eyes, obviously that’s the first single.

Where do you get your inspiration from?
My fans, honestly, without them I wouldn’t be doing this.

So we’ve heard that you are coming back to Australia with Justin Bieber, are you excited about that?
Yes, very excited. I’ve honestly never toured Australia before and it’s really exciting to get back home and support Justin.

Cody Simpson performs with Carly Rae Jepsen. Photo: Getty Images
Carly Rae Jepsen and Cody Simpson opened for Justin Bieber!

So what’s it like being on tour with one of your good friends?
It’s great being able to watch his show and having him watch my show.

You’ve come so far in the last few years. Did you ever imagine that you would be where you are today?
I’ve always wanted to make music, but like I didn’t expect it to happen so early in my life. I guess if you told me four years ago that this is where I would be when I am like 16 then I wouldn’t have expected it to happen at such a young age.

Who do you look up to in the music world?
Jack Johnson, Ed Sheeran, John Mayer, Justin Timberlake and Elvis Presley.