'I was sofa-surfing. Then my song went to number one'

Singer-songwriter Passenger has told the BBC he was sofa-surfing before his music career took off.

The multi-award-winning, platinum-selling artist - real name Mike Rosenberg - said he started out busking in his home town of Brighton.

"I did not have a house. I just stayed in hostels and on people's couches," he added.

Passenger, most famous for his number one song in 19 countries Let Her Go, said lots of artists got annoyed about having to play their hit. However, he said he felt grateful every time he sang it due to his journey.

"Let Her Go is a song of a lifetime," he added.

It comes as Passenger announced he was performing an open-air show in partnership with BBC Radio Sussex at Hove Park on 6 September 2026.

He told the BBC he felt really lucky to perform in lovely places like Hove Park.

"I've played in every single pub and every little dive bar in town," he said. "It's never lost on me."

Passenger, who has released 13 albums and 17 singles since 2009, called songwriting his "magical little world".

"I usually do it on my own," he said. "It's always been this little place I can escape to.

"It's been such an incredible outlet for me to understand my own emotions and process them through writing songs.

"The fact that then those songs go on to help other people with similar situations is beautiful."

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