“I’ve got a corner of my room that I’ve turned into a ‘studio’,” JC Stewart tells Apple Music. “I’ve had to sacrifice the bed and a lot of clothes, but I’ve made it work.” We very much appreciate the wardrobe reduction—especially as it helped aid the creation of this exclusive Apple Music Home Session. The Northern Irish singer-songwriter had other issues while recording. “I’ve lived in a flat on the canal in West London for nearly three years,” he says. “The whole three years, there has been a building site on the other side. I honestly think these builders know exactly when to start drilling to ruin a take. They’re very good at it, and it means I have shut every window and door, which in the summer means it’s approximately 8 million degrees in my room when I’m recording. The whole thing is a very sweaty experience.” Fortunately, the results are well worth the perspiration. “I’m used to stripping my songs back and playing like this, but I loved doing it this way, as it really brings their meaning to the forefront,” he says. “I picked ‘I Need You to Hate Me’ and ‘Lying That You Love Me’ as they’re two songs out recently that mean a lot to me. It’s been weird promoting them both during lockdown, but I think it’s given me even more of a connection to them.” Stewart also found time for a cover. “I chose ‘Don’t Need Love’ by 220Kid and Gracey as it’s just a bit of a banger, isn’t it?” he says. “It’s been stuck of my head since I first heard and it was super interesting covering it. The lyrics are actually pretty powerful and the melody is stunning.”