FEATURE: Spotlight: Holly Humberstone

FEATURE:

Spotlight

Holly Humberstone

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FOR this round of Spotlight…

I wanted to include an artist who is one of the best new acts around. Holly Humberstone is someone I am new to, but I have been amazed by her new single, Overkill. From the rumbling drums through to Humberstone’s dreamy-yet-direct vocals, it is a great track! She has been compared to the likes of Phoebe Bridgers but, in truth, Humberstone ploughs her own furrow, and her music is very much hers. I love what she is doing, and I feel she will become one of Britain’s brightest talents and, when festivals kick back up, she will be included in the mix. Humberstone is planning on releasing an E.P. soon – and has material for a second! -, and I will come to that later. Before then, I wanted to quote from a few interviews, as it reveals more about the rising star. When she spoke with Sound Dazed earlier in the year, she discussed her earlier material, and she was asked about how she first got into music – and what Humberstone does outside of her career to keep busy:

“When did you first get into songwriting and creating original music?

I used to have piano lessons and music lessons when I was little. My parents are quite musical, my dad loves poetry, and my mum is a really good cellist. They don’t do it professionally, but they love it and are keen on it. My sisters and I had music lessons when I was really small, and then I was just writing songs. They were just really rubbish, obviously, songs when I was really small. I just kept writing and never really stopped. Didn’t think about doing it, it just kind of happened quite naturally. I uploaded a few of the demos I did on my own to BBC Introducing, and from there, I got heard by my manager Josh. It’s all been cool from there.

When you aren’t creating music, how are you keeping busy?

I can work hard and write songs for a lot of the day, but I have to have done that to be able to just chill. I also just love chilling and not doing anything, so I love just binging Netflix shows. At the moment, I’m binging Arrested Development, which is so funny. I love cartoons, as well. So I love Adventure Time at the moment, obviously because it’s perfect, and I love Studio Ghibli films. Do you know them?”.

Tracks like Falling Asleep at the Wheel, and Deep End are brilliant songs that signal and instant and unique talent. Humberstone has been getting some airplay from BBC Radio 6 Music recently – a station I sort of use as a barometer when it comes to hot talent -, and there is a lot of excitement regarding an E.P. I think Deep End might be my favourite song of Humberstones so far, as it sounds very personal and hits you hard. Humberstone chatted with EUPHORIA. fairly recently, and she talked about that first single, and her writing process:

“Deep End” was your first ever single release. What was it about the track that made you know you wanted it to serve as an introduction to you as an artist?

Originally I’d planned to release “Falling Asleep At The Wheel” as the first single, but after writing “Deep End” towards the end of summer last year, I figured it made so much more sense to come first. “Deep End” was written about the people closest to me, my sisters, and all about our struggles with mental health, and sticking by the ones you love. I felt like “Deep End” was probably the most personal song I’d ever written, and so it made sense as my debut single. I was also getting tons of messages from people who had seen me perform it live, saying how much they related to the tune so I wanted to put it out into the world so they could connect with me and my music on a deeper level.

When something emotionally impactful happens, do you normally feel the urge to write about it instantly or do you take a bit of time to process the feeling/experience?

I find when I’m going through something, writing is a way of making sense of emotions and working through situations and clearing my head a bit, so I tend to write when I’m feeling the most. I think writing is my way of processing things, so the best and most honest songs usually come from songs I’ve written when I’ve had the urge.

Sort of following on from that, when you’re writing, do you ever think about the potential interpretations that listeners might have when they hear your songs?

Of course. I try to make my lyrics as personal as possible and include as much detail as I can, as I feel people relate more to specific things, imagery and storytelling rather than to a general event/ feeling if that makes any sense? I think if it’s honest and I’ve put real emotions into a song, then people should hopefully be able to interpret in their own way and feel something from it themselves”.

I want to pop in some quotes from a couple of other interviews, as Humberstone has been quite active promoting her new music. It is small wonder there is so much buzz and anticipation regarding the Grantham-born artist. From her days uploading music to BBC Introducing, to performing at festivals and shows around the U.K., she has performed alongside Lewis Capaldi, and it seems like there is no stopping the rise of Holly Humberstone! Whilst Damien Rice, Lorde, Bon Iver, Phoebe Bridgers, HAIM and a lot of other artists have inspired Humberstone’s sound, as I said, she is very much concocting something that is hers.

It is a great time for singer-songwriters, and I do feel that the upcoming E.P. will gain a lot of huge reviews. When Humberstone was interviewed by The New Nine, the subject of her E.P. was among the questions – in addition to the challenges she has encountered and what she would say to young women coming through:

“What can we expect from your upcoming EP?

Holly: I’ve been working so hard on this EP for so long to get it right, and it’s now sounding so much like me, and sonically exactly where I want to head with my music. The songs are very special to me and I can’t wait for people to hear them. I try and make my music as personal and as honest as possible so I’m looking forward to being able to connect with people in that way.

What has been one of the biggest challenges for you in the music industry?

Holly: I'd probably say the hardest challenge I’ve faced with music so far is having a lot of self-doubt and comparing myself to others. It’s so so easy to do and I think every artist is probably guilty of it. I’ve come to realise over time that it’s really unhealthy and it actually stops me from being as creative and productive, so there’s really no point in worrying about that sort of thing!

What’s your best piece of advice for young women?

Holly: My best piece of advice would be to trust yourself and your instinct. You know yourself the best and what’s good for you and what isn’t. Don’t spend your time worrying about other people too much, just focus on you and you’ll be great!”.

In terms of the artists that you need to watch this year, Holly Humberstone should be right up there! I am not sure what the rest of 2020 holds, because she won’t be able to gig and do a lot. 2021 will be a year where she can make a charge and get that brilliant music out to the people. If you have not heard Overkill, take a listen to the song and it will become evident why so many people hold her in such high esteem. The final interview I want to source from is NME. The subject of Overkill and what comes next was put to her:

“Tell us about the inception of ‘Overkill’?

“I wrote this single last November with two of my close friends, producer Rob Milton (Easy Life, Maisie Peters) and Benjamin Francis Leftwich. I was in a really good headspace at the time and I’d just started seeing someone, so I was really excited about everything. We wanted to write a positive song about the weird, confusing and exciting feelings that come with a new relationship. ‘Overkill’ is about wanting to tell someone about how you feel, but also not wanting to scare them off – personally, I know that sometimes I can come across as a bit full on.”

Your first EP is on its way. How did you find putting your first body of work together?

“It has definitely been a journey – both lyrically and sonically, because I have been trying to discover who I am as an artist through the music I am making. I had the first track down in 2018, and from there, I knew where I wanted to go with my music. I think that it sums me up on the whole. It feels like me, and it was really important for us to take our time and get it right.”

What is the future looking like for Holly Humberstone?

“I am already starting to work on my second EP, which I am really, really excited about now. I am always writing, and the sooner I can get back to more of a routine, the better. Hopefully I’ll be able to do some touring next year. I am really enjoying this process, and I feel so lucky to be able to create”.

The fact Holly Humberstone has so many ideas brewing and she is in this prolific vein of form bodes well for next year. I don’t think an official release date has been announced regarding her first E.P., so keep your eyes peeled on her social media channels. The music industry is packed, and it can be really tough deciding which acts you need to follow, and which ones are going to remain for years to come. I have no doubt regarding Holly Humberstone’s talent and stamina. With an amazing voice, brilliant songs and an insatiable passion, here is an artist who is very much…