Despite his meteoric music career, British pop star Ed Sheeran doesn’t consider himself a born superstar. “I’m a nerd,” said the 32-year-old to the music magazine “Rolling Stone”, which met the musician in Auckland, New Zealand and published a portrait on Tuesday. “I love Lord of the Rings. I love Pokemon. I fucking love Lego and Warhammer and I’m not meant to be thought cool.”

He used to think of Pikachu and other Pokemon characters as his friends, Sheeran told the magazine. Now he’s the one who gets asked if he can write a song for a new Pokemon game. Sheeran released the song “Celestial” last year in cooperation with Pokemon.

“I still have to prove myself. I’m still not taken very seriously,” said the pop star in an interview.