English singer-songwriter James Blunt [ tickets ] has won numerous accolades for his work, and became a star thanks to the hit "You're Beautiful." But all that can take a backseat to "Sesame Street."

Blunt taped an episode of the show last year, with an acoustic guitar in hand, and sang with the character Telly about missing a triangle to the tune of "You're Beautiful."

"It's a huge honor," Blunt said during an interview with LiveDaily. "It's an age-old program and one of the best kinds of things possibly on television at the moment because it's all about education. I met Elmo and Telly and I did a duet about the triangle. You learn something new every day. It was very funny."

Blunt is pushing his sophomore effort "All the Lost Souls," the follow-up to his award-winning 2004 debut "Back to Bedlam." It recently debuted at No. 7 on The Billboard 200 album chart, selling about 92,000 copies.

LiveDaily: Congratulations on your second album.

James Blunt: Thanks. I just hadn't had a copy [until now], so it was great to go and grab a copy. I spent a lot of time making it in the first place, making the songs and writing and recording them, mixing them and mastering it. Also, I had done all the artwork with friends of mine as well. So it was just nice to get a hold of the real deal. It's cool. The artwork's fun.

When does your world tour begin?

I'm doing some shows now. These are really just a precursor until the album comes out so we can try to connect again with individuals and smaller audiences. But if we're invited back, then we're gonna come back early next year and begin the world tour.

Why did you decide to name your album "All the Lost Souls"?

"All the Lost Souls" is about what it is to be conscious--that search for your individuality; to understand your individuality; to understand your own mind.

"All the Lost Souls" is a little bouncier than your last album, "Back to Bedlam."

We had a lot of fun making it. The first one, I recorded at home myself. I played as many instruments as I could. I wrote the songs in the same way, not knowing if I'd ever have a band to play with. This time, I was completely free of that, and I had the freedom of being able to take it to my band that I toured with. With that knowledge, I could write songs that were more uptempo.

So you brought your touring band in the studio with you?

Yes. We know each other and get on with each other very well. So it made sense for me to go and write the songs and then take them to the studio to record. We recorded it as a live album, as well, with all of us facing each other in the room. We were trying to catch that bit of human spirit. The songs are really personal. They're about my own experiences, my life. They're about what it is to be staying conscious but have to deal with yourself and relationships with friends and family, and then also to have to deal with the group. When we recorded it, we wanted to make sure we captured that human spirit. That's why we recorded it as a live album.

The album is extremely personal. Is it kind of difficult to share those feelings?

Um, no. For me, I go and write on my own, and I express my feelings. I record the songs pretty much to document it. Otherwise, I'll have them going 'round in my head forever. Then I put it out and some human beings will connect with it, and for other people, it will give them a bit of grief.

Why did you choose "1973" as the first single?

Because it was the first song on the album. We start at the top and work our way down.

What was it like to work with producer Tom Rothrock again?

Great. He's a great friend of mine. It was really nice. He came out when I was on tour, he came out when I was writing in Ibiza, and we have this great working relationship. I just enjoyed being back with him.

Why did you decide to write in Ibiza?

I just thought I was going to get a house there. In a very short distance, it has a lot going on for it. It's a famous party island, but what people don't know about it is it's got real seclusion. Writing in Ibiza was secluded, away from the media and the music industry.

Did you feel any pressure to follow up the success of "Back to Bedlam"?

Not on a commercial level, no. So much emphasis is put on the numbers of how much you sell and the charts. But that's not really actually what music is about. Music is about how you express yourself and what pleasure you get from expressing yourself. I just really enjoyed the development of the first album to the second. I felt more experienced and more confident. I didn't worry about an audience too much. I just had fun with it. It doesn't really matter how many it sells or what chart position it gets, the important thing is I have an album which I think has grown from the first. It's deeper and it's richer than the first. I really like this album. That's far more important than if I get a good review or when you get a position in the chart and that impresses people.

Tell me about the song "One of the Brightest Stars."

Yes, it's a very sweet, lost little song. It's about perception, really. How people's perception can change and shift. It's just a really sweet song. I didn't feel like I had to try to force it to be loud and proud. But keep it simple. The message comes through to people through its subtlety.

"Annie" is a very passionate song. Is that a true story?

Yeah, it is. We tell our children now that success is measured by fame and money. It's one person's story where they start out on their journey and try to find happiness through fame, and [eventually] find it through something of greater meaning.