SYCO/Epic’s Camila Cabello made the leap from Fifth Harmony to solo stardom with one massive hit, the unstoppable “Havana.” Since claiming the spotlight with that monster, Cabello has demonstrated real depth and versatility as both writer and performer—and continues to generate volcanic fan response both onstage and via her gigantic social following.

You just wrapped 45 shows on Taylor Swift’s reputation Tour. What did you learn from that experience? Any specific highlights you’d like to share?
Going on the reputation Tour felt like such a full-circle experience for me. Taylor was one of the people who influenced me to start songwriting and using music as a diary when I was little. She’s one of the people who first made me want to write songs about my first kiss, first love, first heartbreak, everything I felt when I was a young teenager. Getting to go on her tour—and seeing how many people she’s reached by just being herself and being vulnerable—was really beautiful and inspiring. The way she talks to the crowd, she makes people feel like she’s talking just to them. She’s very vulnerable and emotional, and it makes people feel relaxed and understood. I felt like that was really inspiring to see.

You recently became the first female artist to surpass one billion streams on Spotify with “Havana.” At what point in the song’s creation did you know in your gut that it would really catapult you to another level?
With songs, I can’t categorize them into what they’re going to do for me success-wise; I just like to do things that feel different, unique and representative of me. If something clicks all those boxes, then I believe in it, but you never know if that’s going to work out. I’ve liked songs that I thought were amazing but that didn’t really catapult people—but it doesn’t mean they’re not amazing songs. I’ve learned in my career that I’m going to be right and I’m going to be wrong, so you just have to go with what you love and believe in.

Measurable success aside, which song on Camila are you most proud of—from a creative or personal standpoint—and why?
“Never Be the Same” is the song I’m most proud of from a creative standpoint. I learned the technique this time around of just freestyling melodies on the mic, as opposed to writing the song in sections. I walked in the studio with an idea for a song called “Nicotine,” which compared love to drugs, because it’s intoxicating and addictive when you find the person who feels like a drug to you. My producer played me a track, and I did eight freestyle melody passes of that song, we picked the best melodies from the eight passes and filled in the mumbles that I was singing, and it became “Never Be the Same.” I’m proud of it, because to me it’s what the feeling of love is, in musical form.

Having made the transition from being part of a successful group to having an even more successful solo career, what do you consider the biggest lessons or revelations of going solo?
I’ve learned so much about myself both as an artist and a person since starting my solo career. I think the important thing I’ve learned is that success means something different to everybody. Success to me means challenging myself, growing, giving my best every time I’m writing a song, and making work that represents who I am at this point in time. I like using my work as almost a musical photograph of where I’m at. I’ve learned success to me means integrity, taking risks and always being the 16-year-old girl who wrote songs on GarageBand in the bathroom. To me, success is never losing the passion for making music â€¨that I love, no matter what.

What do the Grammys mean to you?
It’s something I’ve always dreamed of. It’s just a really special recognition by one’s peers in music.

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