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  Twitter: John Mayer
  Singer John Mayer

John Mayer has admitted to his "dumb interviews" while speaking to Ellen DeGeneres, and he explained his absence from the spotlight as being self-imposed.

Widely believed to be recovering from a throat granuloma, Mayer explained that his absence from the media had more to do with personal growth.

In 2010, the singer-songwriter received backlash after divulging details about his past relationships with Jessica Simpson as well as Jennifer Aniston. Previously very outspoken, Mayer has been out of the public eye since the interview.

"I did a couple of dumb interviews and it kind of woke me up," the "Half of My Heart" singer said while on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" Tuesday.

Calling the period "a strange time" in his life, Mayer stepped out of the spotlight for self-evaluation.

"I lost my head for a little while," he explained. "I lost touch, and I didn't want to ask for directions."

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The realization for change was not easy, Mayer admitted.

"It was a violent crash into being an adult," he said to DeGeneres. "I'm glad I actually stayed out of the spotlight. Because I think back then I would have said, 'Give me two weeks or let me get out and do Ellen and let me explain myself.' I was like, 'No, idiot. Go away. Be 33 and 34 instead of 28 for the fourth year.'"

The 34-year-old purchased property in Montana where he quietly reflected on his past and worked on his new album, "Born and Raised."

"The plan that originally gets you out of high school and your hometown, in front of people, I think that plan was over," Mayer explained to DeGeneres of moving to the mountainous state and "living in the middle of nowhere."

"You get to a certain age where you prepare yourself for happiness," he added. "Sometimes you never remember to actually get happy. I remembered to get happy."

Mayer's new "Born and Raised" hits stores May 22. Although he was able to finish the album, the singer was forced to cancel his upcoming tour and must undergo another surgery as the throat granuloma has returned.

"It's not a health concern whatsoever but it has taken me out of singing," he said. "Tried to beat it the first time and couldn't. They cut this thing out, then they inject your vocal chords with Botox, which freezes [them] so [they] can heal without smacking up against the other side. I just need more Botox next time."