Lily Allen shares details on creation of new album after split: "It said everything that I needed to say"

As an artist, Lily Allen stands firm by her belief that heartbreak can be a gift.After all, it helped lead to her latest album, "West End Girl.""You know, while I was writing it, I wasn't really sure that it was going to see the light of day," Allen told CBS News special correspondent Anthony Mason in an interview for "CBS Mornings" that aired Thursday, describing the music as "an act of desperation." The studio album, released in late October, was written during the breakup of her nearly 4-year marriage to "Stranger Things" actor David Harbour. The theme of what's been described as Allen's epic "breakup album" centers around tales of a deceptive partner, which the singer says is based partly on truth and partly on fantasy. Harbour has not directly addressed his breakup with Allen or commented on her "West End Girl" album.

But in an interview with Esquire UK, published around the album's release, Harbour discussed the importance of accepting your mistakes."I'd change everything or nothing.

If you accept your past, you accept it completely, even the pain, the mistakes...It's all part of the journey, the growth, the wisdom, the empathy, and the connection, and if you change one thing, you change everything," he told the magazine at the time, adding that his work is about being honest.New album says "everything that I needed to say"But Allen said it was a "nightmare" holding onto the album and stunted her healing process.

She felt a sense of relief and peace when she finally was able to share her words with the world."Since I've put it out, it's felt completely and utterly liberating.

It was kind of hellish having it in the background," Allen said."I don't know.

I just feel like I couldn't – it said everything that I needed to say.And I felt like I couldn't really like get on with my life until I'd said it."Her newly released music quickly lit up social media, with fans reacting to it on TikTok.Allen wrote most of the record within the span of 10 days...