FEATURE: Spotlight: Revisited: Skye Newman

FEATURE:

Spotlight: Revisited

Skye Newman

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ABOUT seven months…

since I spotlighted Skye Newman, I am primed to come back to her. One reason is that she was just voted the winner of Radio 1’s Sound of 2026. She also put out her E.P., SE9 Part 1, in October. For anyone curious, SE9 primarily covers the areas of Eltham, Mottingham, and New Eltham, within the Royal Borough of Greenwich, London. Skye Newman was born in south-east London, so it is a representation of her home and hearth. I am going to go back to some interviews from later last year. However, before then, this article from yesterday (9th January), from the BBC is Skye Newman reacting to being named BBC Radio 1’s Sound of 2026. We get to learn about her background, and a year where she collaborated and performed with some big artists. An exceptional young musician who has been championed by Elton John:

“Born in south-east London, Newman exploded onto the scene last year when her debut single, Hairdresser, went straight into the top 20. The follow-up, Family Matters, reached number five in June.

It was the first time a female artist had made the top 20 with their first two singles since Ella Henderson in 2014.

Family 'nightmare'

Play her music and you'll instantly hear why.

Newman's songs crackle with barely-contained emotion, as her ragged (and extraordinarily expressive) voice tears through lyrics of betrayal, loss and disorder.

"It's literally the story of my life," she says.

"It's my way of letting out any trauma and pain that I couldn't speak."

On Family Matters, external, she describes growing up in a council estate home where drug abuse and police attention were a constant presence.

At the time, she didn't know any different. It was only later that Newman realised she "comes from a broken background".

"There's a lot more of it than people realise," she says, reflecting on her experiences of violence, arguments and addiction.

"I think a lot of people have children not really understanding how big [a responsibility] it is.

"They don't have love elsewhere in their life, so they think they can get it from a child - but then you're just passing your pain and trauma on to them, and it doesn't fix anything.

"You might have someone who loves you unconditionally, but you won't be able to provide everything they should get, because you're not happy."

Despite Family Matters' scathing account of her upbringing, Newman says she's still close to her parents and five elder siblings.

"My whole family understands the same feelings, so it's like we're all kind of in it together," she previously told Apple Music, external.

"As much as we're all a nightmare, it works because we all understand."

Newman has been singing since she could talk. She gave her first performance at the age of six, singing Cyndi Lauper's notoriously tricky True Colors at a school show.

"I don't know how, but my little voice managed to do it at the time," she laughs.

Before the song had even finished, she knew she'd devote her life to music.

"It was just magical. It was [my] first time having an audience, and I felt so comfortable."

Amy Winehouse – a singer who never surrendered her vulnerability in the midst of chaos - was her first true love, but it was Newman's aunt who helped her find a path in music.

A jazz and blues singer, she'd invite her niece to concerts and recording sessions, immersing her in the world of professional musicianship.

"She was a singer-songwriter too, and she showed me how you can create magic," she says.

"I'd watch her write and build something out of nothing. It gave me a hunger to be that person, making that magic.

"I'd go home and try it out for myself, and I found I had a way with words... I've always been a chatterbox, so that probably helped!"

Sadly, her aunt died when Newman was 11. At the funeral, Newman sang the 1930s folk song (You're Gonna Miss Me) When I'm Gone, after discovering it through the film Pitch Perfect.

"I watched that film with her best friend just after she died, and [the song] just resonated with me," says Newman. "It reminded me so much of her."

Before long, the singer started uploading original songs and "really horrendous covers" – first on YouTube, then Music.ly, before it became TikTok.

She built a sizeable fanbase but, as issues at home piled up, her posts trailed off.

On reflection, Newman says she needed time to get her head straight. She didn't yet have the emotional stability to deal with the pressures of a music career, let alone fame.

All the same, writing was key to her survival.

"Crazily enough, I'm someone who struggles to talk about what I feel," she says.

"Singing is a whole different story. When I'm in the studio, I feel calm. It's my safe space."

Serenity is not a quality you'd associate with her music, though. Her stories are vivid, prickly, lived-in. An emotional whirlwind.

On her breakout single, Hairdresser, external, she sings with bitter annoyance about a one-sided friendship – depicting a girl who'll borrow her clothes and her cash, but cancels their plans at the last minute when a man comes calling.

Her latest, Lonely Girl, external, is an all-too-recognisable story of a man in his early 20s taking advantage of a younger, emotionally naïve woman.

"You're in your school uniform in his car/Don't wanna see what's in his search bar."

Newman says it's more than a cautionary tale. "Young people need advocates, but also knowledge," she explained in a press release.

"Educate these babies on how good grooming can make them feel at first. Because that's the point - to keep them there so these predators can control. It's abuse."

Even in an era of confessional pop, Newman stands out. She's not afraid to stare down injustice, or to confront her demons before they swallow her whole.

When she plays live, the singer is often moved to tears.

"Definitely, the peace is disturbed sometimes," she says. "There are days where I feel absolutely fine, then I get on stage and it just comes out. Music can really draw out feelings that you didn't know were there."

But it's not all tears and tribulations.

Playing London's famous Koko venue last September, Newman clambered up to the balcony and belted out her hit song FU&UF, surrounded by her best friends., external

"That was a moment I'll never forget. I may not be blessed in the sense of a perfect family, but I'm blessed in the sense of friends, that's for sure."

Admirably, she's kept her friends close. Her sister is part of her management team, her best friend runs her social media, and other friends are training to handle stills photography and nail art.

"I'm just trying to pull people in that I love, because this industry can be so scary," she says. "So any jobs I can get them in, I'm like, 'Guys who wants a job? Who can learn how to do it?'"

She's also getting invaluable advice from her peers, with Sheeran, Capaldi and Sir Elton taking her under their considerable wings.

"It's just insanity, when I think about it," she says of getting to open for two of the UK's biggest acts”.

I will end with a couple of reviews for SE9 Part 1. Putting her childhood postcode on the musical map, it has won acclaim for the depth and importance of its lyrics. The incredible honesty of the lyrics. I think that is what affects people most. Many artists are not vulnerable or real with their music. They can hide behind a persona or their lyrics are oblique or cliché. With Skye Neman, you get someone who is unflinching real, raw and honest. I want to move to an NME interview from November. This exciting rising artist putting out her debut E.P. There are artists that take a while to make an impression and work their way into public consciousness. Skye Newman seems fully formed and someone incredible from the off:

“Songwriting was your way to escape when you were growing up. What did you want to get away from?

“Just carnage, really. I don’t like to go too much into things because it’s not just my life, it’s my five siblings’ lives as well, and there are many emotions involved… I was aware of things that should never have been brought to light. Things that I hope no one ever has to see or go through – definitely not at the age I did. A lot of trauma, I’ll just say that.”

Do you think this vulnerable approach is why your songs have resonated so much?

“It’s a very strange feeling. I get met with such sadness, but so many good feelings too. It breaks my heart that people relate, but also kind of heals me at the same time because, at the end of the day, I’m just a little girl trying to get through life – and she’s still there. Knowing there are people that understand how I feel makes it easier, but it’s also unsettling that so many people have been through the same stuff.”

You now count Elton John, Lewis Capaldi and Ed Sheeran among your fans. How have you found the past year?

“It’s been crazy and surreal. I don’t think it’s something I’ll ever get over. Even having conversations and getting advice from these people is mental. I honestly feel like I was born to do this job. I feel really cocky when I say that, but I don’t mean it like ‘I should be here’, more that I feel so at home and peaceful when I’m on stage. That’s always been my way of getting out of the real world, so to be able to do this full-time feels surreal, and that’s down to the people that listen to me. I can’t thank the people around me enough.”

Have you felt pressure following viral success?

“I haven’t felt pressure on myself. People can try to put it on you, but it’s only what you allow to affect you. I try not to allow other opinions to put pressure on me… I just love music and making it is my outlet, so I will keep doing what I love, and if people don’t like that and it doesn’t align anymore, then that’s fine. I don’t do it for the sake of that. I would still do it if it wasn’t my job.”

What’s the story of your first project, and why did you call it ‘SE9 Part 1’?

“I think these songs best represent how I’ve got to where I am. Because a lot of them were written two years ago, they are about my journey leading up to this point. They explain the events that made me me. It’s an insight into the first part of my life.”

What is your main goal as an artist?

“To have a long career in this and know that I always have music there as my outlet and support would be priceless”.

Prior to getting to some takes on the extraordinary and utterly engrossing SE9 Part 1, I am going to include some of Rolling Stone UK’s interview with Skye Newman. If some are not fans of Ed Sheeran and Lewis Capaldi and that side of Pop, I don’t think Newman sounds like that or has that same feel. Whilst it is great she is linked to these artists, I can see her collaborate more with incredible women at the Pop forefront very soon:

“In July, Newman performed alongside Ed Sheeran, before touring with Lewis Capaldi. Acknowledging that these experiences were incredible (“My voice has grown; my confidence has grown”), she says she needs to get back into the studio to see how it impacts her next round of songwriting. For now, we’re speaking following the release of her debut EP, SE9. With polished production by Luis Navidad, it features more candid songs about the place she calls home, with Newman’s voice unfurling like smoke, leaving her sharp lyrics floating in the air. 

Newman had a difficult childhood, though she only fully understood the extent once she got a bit older. “Whatever was going on was normal to me,” she says, “Drugs, violence, all that – that was normal. I think I’m very desensitised to a lot of these things.”

The moment that sparked the desire to process her feelings through writing was the death of her auntie when Newman was 11. A jazz and blues singer, her aunt brought young Newman along to the studio, letting her observe the songwriting process along with her live performances. “I just watched her have such passion and love for something,” Newman recalls. “I think because I was so close with her, and I got to watch music be created, that’s where my love of writing and the studio come from. Anyone that’s been in a studio will understand, but it’s very magical to me personally. There’s no better experience than watching a song be created.”

Music had always been a lifeline, but songwriting became a new tool. “Music’s my therapy: it’s easy to be in a studio, write it all down and kind of get it out that way,” she says. Though she had attended BRIT Kids – the prestigious BRIT School’s weekend programme for younger children – Newman did not have success with her auditions for BRIT School as an adolescent. It was a knock, but she smiles as she reflects on it: “It just made me want it more.”

She began uploading her songs online, first on YouTube and then Music.ly (which later merged with TikTok), gradually building her following. Coming from a working-class background in an arts industry that feels increasingly skewed towards people who come from wealth, Newman recognises the power of social media for levelling out the playing field: “You have a voice, you don’t need much to get your opinion out there, and there’s power in numbers for people who don’t have much. Coming from fuck all, I love what it’s done for me.” 

At the same time, she’s very aware of the impact social media has had on the music industry (and beyond). “Numbers are great, but it doesn’t mean much compared to being live with people,” she says. “I’m always the person that would rather sit in a room full of music and live instruments and feel it, whereas that’s got lost a lot more because of social media. It’s ruined the thing of real, raw music because everyone just wants that 20-second, 30-second buzz for TikTok. If that’s what you’re looking for, you’ve got the wrong bitch – I’m someone else!” 

Skye Newman is a refreshing, striking new voice on the British music scene, unafraid to put out fully formed songs full of vulnerability and bite. For those who haven’t been paying attention, such a massive breakthrough year has led to accusations of Newman being an industry plant. She laughs at the idea, once more displaying that bright and engaging honesty that has so enraptured her listeners: “I’ll take it! People think someone who’s done this before is writing my songs? Happy days! Means I’m doing it right”.

New Wave Magazine looked inside the wonderful SE9 Part 1. Skye Newman very much writing real, personal and honest music. It is not so insular or personal that it cannot be understood by listeners. She is writing about themes that many can relate to. Whilst her music is fun and there is this energy to it, there is this potency and punch that stays in the mind. Tackling issues and subjects with bravery:

“Life always feels tumultuous and turbulent when you’re young. You think everything that has happened to you, has only happened to you, and because you’re so close to it, you’re right in the middle of the storm, it’s hard sometimes to gain clarity or distance over the events that happen in your life.

And that’s what Skye Newman wrestles with in her EP, SE9 Part 1, named after the postcode of her childhood home in South East London.

The opening track, ‘FU & UF’ was first teased and then performed at her sold-out shows at KOKO London earlier this year, which was also the first time she performed there. Videos on social media platform TikTok in the balcony amongst her fans as if she wasn’t the headliner, and had simply gone to enjoy her favourite artist with her friends.

The sound of a metronome throughout the stripped-out production keeps us locked in before the visceral and expressive voice of Skye sets us off on this six-track journey.

Like much of the project, she is heated, as she shares a tale of being a victim of unreplicated effort from her partner, and explores gender politics.

Speaking about the track, she said: “I put FU & UF first because it’s good to remind whoever’s listening to be strong and to stand your ground,” says Skye. “My main message is don’t change who you are for anyone. Be true to yourself. It took me a while to realise this, but I am now living for me. And that’s the most important kind of living!”

The accompanying visual, directed by Rohan Dill, documents Skye and her friends, all females, reclaiming traditionally male-dominated and masculine spaces such as football pitches and boxing rings to showcase the importance of representation and the power of feminine energy.

Skye believes that kindness kills. The second track of the EP, Hairdresser, soulfully explores the transactional nature of relationships through a dual lens. The frustrated girlfriend vents about her man to the hairdresser, who in turn questions the validity of the friendship.

Skye sings, “Baby girl, are you listening? (Yeah) / There you go, got me questioning / If I was low, would you call me then? /If you got a man, would we still be friends?”

Combining electronic elements such as synths with upbeat drums, ‘My Addiction’ has a more alternative psychedelic influence as she likens love and desire to addiction that she cannot seem to or wants to shake.

The South Londoner longs to return to better memories on ‘Out Out’ – gentle piano chords help to provide the only quiet moment in the project. It shows Skye demonstrating introspection without losing the edge in her voice. She laments for more care, consideration and appreciation in the face of an unhappy relationship.

On ‘Family Matters’, the opening line is “You’ve never worn these shoes/Don’t mean my new balance in blue/Raised on pure dysfunction, But sleep I’ll never lose”, is delivered with a raw honesty as she shares her perspective on her family, and embraces how adversity has shaped her.

Closing out with Smoke Rings, Skye shows she has one of the most compelling voices as she goes back to basics with a minimalistic piano instrumentation, favouring an intimate soundscape, in which her smooth voice adopts a more languid style than what we have heard so far. She does keep the power.

It’s a fitting end, cinematic even. Yearning and longing, the fire that we encountered at the start has been turned down to a simmer. It’s warm enough to be comforting, but there is an undeniable sadness in Skye’s voice as she sings about regret and heartbreak. Sometimes you only know you're past the storm until the smoke clears.

This summer just gone, Skye Newman has performed at the BBC Introducing stage at Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Liverpool, sang alongside Ed Sheeran with ain Ipswich and supported Lewis Capaldi’s UK tour. She has also had her own headline shows at Manchester’s O2 Ritz and London’s KOKO sold out”.

I will end with Broken 8 Music and their review of the unbelievable SE9 Part 1. This is an E.P. that came from one of our very best artists. I know I use those words to describe many artists. However, Skye Newman is very much the real deal. Someone who is going to have a hugely long and successful career:

“Skye Newman has had a truly nuts year. Two massive, Gold-certified singles that crashed the UK Top 20 – a first for a UK female solo artist in over a decade – should tell you all you need to know. Her performances have gone from the BBC Introducing stage to lighting up arena tours with Lewis Capaldi and Ed Sheeran. Now, with the release of her debut project, the six-track EP, 'SE9 Part 1', Newman is proving that her ascent is no fluke; she’s a generational talent rooted in the poetry and grit of South East London, after which the EP is named.

This project is a perfect snapshot of her journey so far, effortlessly blending the already iconic hits with three brand-new tracks. The established singles, 'Hairdresser', 'Family Matters', and 'Out Out', are already cornerstones of her sound: smoky, soul-infused vocals laid over surprisingly simple, yet potent, production. She manages to balance intimacy and raw honesty in a way few artists can, pulling from her influences like Amy Winehouse and Eminem to create something truly her own.

The breakthrough success of 'Family Matters' wasn’t down to chance. It’s a gut-punch of a track where she lays her life bare, singing lines like, "Raised on pure dysfunction / but sleep I’ll never lose." It’s an unflinching look at complex family life, summarised perfectly by her observation: "I can tell you about me, but you won’t understand."

The new tracks are just as compelling. The opener, 'FU & UF', is already plastered across social media thanks to pre-release snippets. It starts with a minimalist, piano-led beat that eventually swells into a pop masterpiece. It’s a classic Newman move: letting her incomparable voice carry the weight of her lyrics about a toxic lover. Then there's 'Smoke Rings', a stunning piano ballad about remembering lost passion. When she sings, "All of the smoke rings take me back there / When I did it with you," her voice and the piano move together like true partners, proving that synths and fancy instrumentation aren’t needed when you possess a voice this pure and expressive.

Newman’s strength lies in her fearless refusal to hold back, whether she's calling out a disappointing friend in 'Hairdresser' or navigating personal battles. This debut EP is a powerful statement. 'SE9 Part' 1 is more than just a collection of songs; it’s a mission statement from an artist who speaks from the heart and is already redefining what it means to be a UK chart-topper. This isn't just where she’s from; it’s a launchpad for where she’s headed”.

Next month, Skye Newman briefly visits the U.S. and has a couple of dates there. She has a run of U.K. dates in the spring. It is a shame that the London dates are sold out, as I would love to see her perform. It shows that there is huge demand and this love of her music. She plays Reading & Leeds in August. It is going to be another busy year. With the BBC Radio 1 Sound of 2026 honour under her belt and a stunning E.P. done, what comes next? I guess there will be debut album at some point, though I feel this year is going to be Newman taking to the road as much as possible and putting out some new singles. This extraordinary London songwriter was in my sights last year but, since I covered her, so much has happened. It was essential to come back…