FEATURE: To Watch in 2024: Abby Roberts

FEATURE:

To Watch in 2024

Abby Roberts

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I have already included some artists…

PHOTO CREDIT: Otto Masters via ENFNTS TERRIBLES

in Spotlight, so rather than repeat artists who are coming through and will make big moves soon, I am popping some in a new strand. Features around artists to watch in 2024. I have featured Abby Roberts before, though I feel that she is someone who, since I included her on my site in 2022, has reached new heights. There are so many incredible artists that I will cover between now and the start of next year. I think that Abby Roberts is one that everyone needs to look out for. I will reintroduce her before coming to some interviews from this year. Here is some background to the remarkable artist – and one set to blow up in 2024:

“Abby Roberts is an up-and-coming artist, singer and songwriter from the United Kingdom. Born in 1999 in London, Abby has been singing since she was 7 years old. At the age of 13, she began writing her own music and has been actively performing in various venues across the U.K. ever since.

Abby's music style is a unique blend of soulful R&B and Pop. Her catchy melodies and heartfelt lyrics make her songs stand out from the rest. She has written several singles throughout her career that have been featured on Spotify and Apple Music playlists. She is also currently working on an upcoming EP that is sure to be a hit with fans of all ages.

Abby has collaborated with a number of other artists over the years, including Grammy Award-winning producer James Fauntleroy. She has also been featured on tracks by fellow British artists such as Skepta, Dave, and Loyle Carner.

In addition to her studio work, Abby has performed live at many venues across the U.K., including festivals such as Glastonbury, Reading & Leeds, Bestival, and Latitude. She has also had the privilege of opening for renowned acts such as J Hus, Lady Leshurr, and Ray Blk”.

Following the release of her debut album/long-E.P., Ashes, last year, Roberts released some incredible singles since then. Including this year’s Imposter Syndrome and volatile, she is an artist who I think will get worldwide touring dates next year. Maybe another album will come out. Definitely someone primed for huge festival stages very soon. Last year, I wrote about this promising artists taking her earliest steps. A year or more later, a lot has happened in her career. I am keen to get to some interviews with Abby Roberts. I want to start with an interview from Wonderland. They spoke with Roberts about her new single, Imposter Syndrome, and what is was like touring with Halsey:

“Hey! Congratulations on the upcoming release! Could you tell me a bit about your background and how you’ve gotten to this point?

I feel like I’m still very new to music. I started making it about three years ago now, but releasing only at the start of last year. And doing shows and everything, that was only the start of last year as well. So it feels like it happened very quickly, which can be quite overwhelming at times. But obviously, I was doing social media for such a long time before this — since I was 11 years old. And I felt that music was the creative release that I needed after doing the same thing for such a long time. I’m loving it.

How have you found that transition from sharing makeup videos to your own music?

I think the main difference is music feels like such a more slow-paced kind of media. With social media, you make the video and post it the day of. It’s that instant gratification. Music has been such a game of patience. A lot of the [current] stuff we’ve written a year or two years ago. So it feels like you’re sitting on this older version of yourself. And then when you release it, it’s like, you’ve already mentally processed it and gotten over it. But now it’s new for everyone else. So it’s an entirely different creative process, I think, which has been a bit of a learning curve to get used to, for sure.

Did you write “Impostor Syndrome” with Halsey while on tour? Or how did that happen?

No, we kind of just became really good friends off the back of the tour. Which I think is really nice, it’s not always that. Sometimes you’re kept really separate from the artist. But like I said, I feel like Ash just took me under her wing and wanted to help me in any way possible. And I’m just like, “thank you. I don’t know why you want to help me, but thank you.”

And we said that we should jump in a session together sometime. I don’t think we ever knew what that was going to be like, but it was just an amazing experience to get to watch someone so well versed in the studio and see that process. And it was the weirdest session ever.

I went out to LA for this writing trip last November and I’d been doing all these sessions and this was one of my last ones. I was stressed and a little burnt out. I felt like I didn’t deserve to be on this trip. I was doing these sessions with all these amazing producers who had worked with artists that I love, such as The Wallows. “Imposter Syndrome” was done with Sammy, Harry Styles’ producer. And then jumping in the session with Halsey as well, I was like, “oh my God, how did I get here? What if she thinks I’m shit?” I was so scared. But I think that was this idea of imposter syndrome in my head. So I kind of wanted to channel that idea. And me and Ash had kind of spoken about feeling that as well, because they said that they still feel it. Which was crazy. So yeah, I’d written all these ideas down before I went to the session — lyric ideas about imposter syndrome. And what was so weird was that me and Ash didn’t even speak about what we were going to write, and she came with the same idea… to write about imposter syndrome. I was like, “what the fuck?” Then we wrote the song and it just came about so quickly. It was really effortless.

She was really encouraging in the session as well. I felt really intimidated at first, but I think that so quickly went away, because there was just no judgement. If things messed up, there was no judgement. So it was just really nice to get to spend that time with her.

Do you have any other dream collaborators, either producers or artists?

I would absolutely love to work with Dan Nigro. I think he’s amazing, but he’s booked and busy right now. I love The Neighbourhood. I think my voice and their kind of mood would sit well together. But Lana Del Rey is my ultimate.

Can you tell me a bit more about your songwriting process? Do the lyrics come first?

I’m very lyrics first, and very chronically over prepared every time. I will keep a little diary in my phone on ideas and themes and whatnot, and write pages and pages of little notes before a session. Then when I get to the session, I’ll piece it together. I always have ideas that I need to write down.

How are you feeling stepping into this next chapter of your music? How does this song set the scene for a new era?

I’m just so ready for something to be out because it’s been such a long time, literally years. I’m just like, “please get it out into the world.” It’s nice to hear people’s feedback on TikTok already. I feel like I’ve been teasing a little bit and stuff and people are going crazy, which is so nice. I couldn’t hope for anything more.

I’m just excited to tour again and maybe do some headline stuff. I’ve done a lot of support stuff over the last year, so I’m ready to do some sweaty little gigs again”.

Before coming to another interview based around Imposter Syndrome, there is one from NOTION from September where Abby Roberts does discuss the single. She also talks about her early music memories, plans for the months ahead, plus her less-than-traditional path into the music world. She is an artist who now commands scores of fans. Someone who is hugely influential:

“The rush to early stardom didn’t come without its challenges, though. As the burgeoning musician explains when we speak, the stigma that came with her beauty-influencer-to-pop-rock-musician arc wasn’t something she could simply brush past. “People say ‘Oh, your music’s actually good’, like they’re expecting it to be a cash grab,” she explains. Another setback? Imposter syndrome: something she felt so strongly that it ended up being the focus of her Halsey co-written new release, the aptly titled ‘Imposter Syndrome’. Channelling darker themes and ‘80s-inspired rock via acts like The Cure, we see Abby step into herself with this new release as she opens up on feeling out of her depth. To celebrate, we caught up with the artist to discuss the record, as well as her love for Lana Del Rey and the Barbie soundtrack.

Let’s kick off with ‘Imposter Syndrome’. Could you talk me through the tracks and the themes? Or the personal meaning behind that?

I wrote ‘Imposter Syndrome’ when I was out in LA on one of my first writing trips late last year. And I just felt so out of my depth, like, “Oh my God, I’m in these rooms with all these amazing producers that have worked with people like Harry Styles”. I just felt like I didn’t deserve to be there – and that feeling wasn’t new to me, either. A lot of the events and situations that I’m in, it feels as though I haven’t earned the right to be in that situation. I was talking to Ash (Halsey) about it – because we became quite good friends after our tour last year – and she explained that the feeling was imposter syndrome. I’d never heard of it before, but she said she even feels it at her level.

PHOTO CREDIT: Sophie Buckley

Looking at ‘Imposter Syndrome’ next to some of your earlier singles and debut EP, how do you think this release marks a change or evolution?

There were a lot more slow songs on that first EP, and, being on tour, I got to see how an audience reacted to my music for the first time. When I was writing that first EP, it wasn’t something that I’d considered; that people were going to react to it in a live way. Obviously when you’re playing heavier rock bangers and stuff live, it goes off in a different way: the crowd is loving it, everyone’s moving and jumping. That was how I wanted to make music going forward. I wanted to make something that’d feel really amazing to run across a stage singing. ‘Imposter Syndrome’ is definitely more of a vibe than the bedroom pop stuff in my first EP.

Do you have any early musical memories or anything that sticks in your mind from childhood?

My dad introduced me to Lana when I was maybe 10. I remember he played her debut album to me in the car one time. And I was like, “God, I love this woman”. So I feel like she’s kind of been stuck with me ever since. I’ve always idolised her.

Other than Lana Del Rey, were there any artists you admired growing up that have shaped your sound today?

I mean, Arctic Monkeys. They were always playing at house parties and stuff growing up. I love ‘90s music as well, Mazzy Star is a big inspiration. The Neighbourhood. I really love moody alternative music.

PHOTO CREDIT: Sophie Buckley

You’re a Yorkshire girl, right? Did you find much inspiration musically from the rich music scene there, or was it more the internet that you gravitated to?

Honestly, it was definitely more the internet. I don’t think I discovered my personal taste in music until my late teens, to be honest. And discovering new music through TikTok – as cringy as that sounds, that’s definitely the common experience these days. I find so much new music through TikTok.

What’s exciting you right now, whether that’s beauty-related, music, fashion? Is there anything outside of what you’re doing right now that’s giving you inspiration?

I’m really excited about Olivia Rodrigo’s new stuff. I’ve been obsessed with ‘bad idea, right?’. It’s so early ’00s movie makeover scene. Billie Eilish I’m always loving. And the Barbie soundtrack. Charli XCX.

Last up, what’s the big plan? What’s this year consisting of, and where are you hoping to end up?

Right now, I just want to do more headline tour stuff. I did loads of supports my first year, and now I want to work on my headline stuff and figure out my visuals in a live setting. That’s what I’m really excited for. But, to be honest, I’m really impulsive and I don’t plan super far in the future”.

PHOTO CREDIT: Sophie Buckley

There are a couple of other interviews that I want to come onto. EUPHORIA. chatted with Abby Roberts last month about a successful and busy year. Someone both in the public gaze but also still coming through in music, it must be quite an odd world for her. That need to communicate with her fans and get out there. How much privacy does a modern-day ‘TikTok artist’ (though I wouldn’t label her as that) get at all?! I know Roberts is an artist who will have her own headline shows and festival headline slots next year:

“Having grown up in the gaze of millions, Abby Roberts’ teenage years were exposed under the white light of her ring light and captured, condensed, and well-edited into a matter of minutes for all to see. At only 11 years old she began filming YouTube videos, expressing her creative streak to the world, which has now exploded into a multitude of careers, music being her most recent venture as she prepares to embark across Europe supporting Gus Dapperton on his “Henge” tour this week.

“I am so chronically online it hurts,” she laughs, kicking off our interview in classic Gen Z fashion and making a statement that many can relate to. “I think it shaped the way I grew up, to be honest. Like, all of my music taste comes from social media and, people might find this next bit a little cringy but, TikTok made me who I am,” she continues before delving into online presences being perceived in many ways. “I think it’s weird to think that we were all being perceived in different ways online from such a young age. You know, being subject to negative comments about yourself from the age of 11 is not good for anyone’s mental health,” she slightly laughs, almost like she’s shaking it off. “I think those experiences gave me really tough skin. Having to deal with that for such a long time really helps you develop methods of not letting it get to you,” she admits. “None of that fazes me as much now.”

PHOTO CREDIT: Sophie Buckley

She’s been a makeup artist for over a decade now, and an entrepreneur for just as long, but the switch over to music didn’t come without its worries. “There was definitely a stigma at first,” says Roberts. “I think there were a lot of opinions and thoughts that I was just doing the TikTok to music pipeline because I did branch out into music around the same time loads of others who got their start on TikTok did,” she states. “I also thought people’s interpretation of me going into this would be like oh my god, another TikToker going into music, how cringe, but I feel like I’ve really proven myself,” she shares. “I felt like I had to for quite a while and it has definitely taken this past year for me to get to a place of where people are almost accepting of it,” she opens up before shining light on other things she worried about when switching from makeup to music. “I was totally worried that my audience wouldn’t follow when I made the switch,” she admits. “I think, you know having an audience that followed me primarily for makeup, it was a case of will they ditch me or not now that I post a bit of everything,” she says, the entrepreneur in her popping out. “I feel like a lot of the makeup stuff carries over into the music world too though,” she exclaims. “Like, it’s all been a big part of this experience so I’m lucky to still have quite a lot of the same audience hanging around. Since I began doing live shows, a few people only know me for music and didn’t have a clue about all my makeup ventures which is weird but new and fun.”

She knows what people are thinking. She’s nothing but self-aware as she reflects on how she got here and on her journey to music. “I was quite late with getting into music, to be honest,” she notes. “I had already been doing social media since I was around 11 years old and I was so dedicated to that; when TikTok started blowing up, I made that my main focus,” she continues. “I was doing makeup looks every day, like four videos a day, for three years and I became creatively burnt out. I felt like I had done every type of makeup look in existence and I didn’t feel like it was fuelling me creatively to keep going,” she apprehensively admits with love for the art form still evident across her face. “I’ve always been the type of person to like a challenge,” she switches up. “I need creative challenges to keep me interested and music was something that was always at the back of my mind but I never really had the time to pursue it,” she adds. “Off the back of doing social media for so long, I managed to make a lot of friends, some within the music scene, and they helped me start off in terms of helping me experiment with different styles and see what I liked,” she proclaims. “I was actually writing and creating music for two years before I released anything because I didn’t want to put out the first thing I made. I wanted to sit back and learn different things before I took that step,” she discloses. “Looking back, I hope those first few songs I created never see the light of day. They were terrible!”

Unlike previous steps in her career, you can tell that her music wasn’t made with a specific audience in mind. You can tell that she’s making it for herself and herself only. “I’m always changing things around. Like, if I could change a song and make adjustments forever, I absolutely would,” she starts off. “At some point though, you’ve got to realize that it’s as done as it’s going to be and you need to get it out before the time for it has passed,” she discloses. “I think my own music adapts to what I’m listening to at the time so when I was writing ‘Imposter Syndrome’, I had lots of ‘80s sci-fi and gothic influenced music on,” she shares.“ I had The Cure on so much and I feel like you can hear some of those vibes.”

“It was quite interesting going into that session but I think it kind of manifested itself in terms of the meaning behind the song,” Roberts begins. “I was going to all these sessions in LA and it was my first time out there; being with all these industry professionals, I started feeling like I was a bit out of my depth and that I couldn’t be in those rooms with them,” she vulnerably admits. “The imposter syndrome was kicking in so I started talking to Halsey about it who expressed how they still feel the same way at times, even as successful as they are,” she exclaims, almost like she’s still in disbelief about the latter. “Like all these years down the line and they still feel like that sometimes, it really helped me decide to hone in on it and express it within my music,” she notes before sharing how the collaboration came about. “Ashley and I became good friends last year. They kind of took me under their wing and is now my music mother. I love them to bits,” she confesses. “We, obviously, stayed in touch and they became so invested in my career that we thought it could be fun to work on something together,” she adds. “For me, it was such a learning experience to be in that studio and pay attention to how the professionals do it in a session,” she continues. “It also made me feel a lot less intimidated because of how chill it was. There was no judgment,” she states. “I could say what I want and do what I want without any pressure,” she beams. “We had some good takes, some bad, and nothing was criticized. It was one of the weirdest but most fulfilling writing experiences ever, almost like it was meant to be because we had the same brain,” she expresses. “We were on the same wavelength the whole time”.

@abbyroberts
⚠️6 DAYS TIL VOLATILE⚠️ presave in 8!oooo
♬ VOLATILE chorus - Abby Roberts

I am going to finish off with an interview with Rolling Stone. Abby Roberts was speaking with them about her new single, volatile. It pertains to the end of a friendship. Messages and a theme that many of her listeners will connect with. It is another tremendous release from one of our brightest young artists. Someone who is adding something a little different to Pop:

“It’s essentially me telling the story of this friendship, breakup and the whole kind of aftermath of that and my feelings surrounding that. And I really wanted the lyrics first of all to really represent like that situation as accurately as possible. And I think I was quite nervous for people to hear that when I started teasing it and eventually releasing it and people are reading into that. So that’s been something that I really have spent a lot of time going over for sure.”

She went on: “It’s about this ex best friend, which I’ve explained in shows when I performed it before. Which is worse than a relationship breakup because we were best friends for a very long time and things ended in a really very messy way, as I think as you can tell by the lyrics in the song.

“I think it was like a build up of a lot of things, that had been happening in this friendship caused by this person, dragging me into dramatic situations and I was like, I don’t need this drama in my life anymore.”

On production duties, meanwhile, is Rob Milton – who has previously worked with the likes of The 1975 and Holly Humberstone.

“His production is a lot more stripped back and that allowed me to be more vulnerable with my lyrics and we worked together to figure out how we could do this song in a way that doesn’t come across as bratty and petty, because there was definitely a lot of real meaning behind what I was trying to put out there,” she said.

Going forward, Roberts explained that the anthemic sound of the track would inform her future output.

“It feels like I’m now only just letting people into this world that I’ve like been in for such a long time,” she said.

“I just think performing that kind of music in a live setting is so much more fun than doing the slow ones. Like, I love a good hair flip. I love running about the stage and like expressing that in a performance. So you can expect a lot more high energy stuff I think from my next project”.

Having already featured Abby Roberts last year, I wanted to end this one by celebrating someone who has built on all that momentum and promise and is now in a position to look at 2024 will big ambitions. Having already played some big gigs and supported Halsey, she has this run of material out there that marks her out as an impressive talent. As her portfolio grows even more, we are going to see Abby Roberts compared to some of the biggest artists of the day. She is someone that should be on everyone’s radar as we…