Ellie Goulding finds it hard to maintain a relationship because of her job.

The 27-year-old singer admits it's a constant battle to keep the romance alive in her relationship with McFly musician Dougie Poynter, 26, as she's required to jet around the world for her pop career.

She explained: ''I've definitely met someone. You get to know someone who makes you very happy and then you go away on tour, right when it was just getting somewhere awesome. It's not fun, but we can make it work. Love is beyond everything, beyond the universe.''

The 'Beating Heart' songstress - who recently earned a BRIT Award for Best Female Solo Artist - also confessed she only discovered her passion for music after taking up guitar playing to impress a love interest.

She told Self magazine: ''I started playing guitar to impress a guy, but all of a sudden I was more engrossed in the guitar than the guy and playing it became my everything. It was a big deal, because I started singing my own songs.''

Ellie's road to pop stardom wasn't without its difficulties, however, as the singer was crippled by anxiety while recording her debut album 'Lights'.

She recalled: ''I'd have these faux heart attacks that felt real. There was so much adrenalin.''