A QUICK CHAT WITH STELLIE

What are the themes behind your new single ‘Rear View’? How did this song come about?

‘Rear View’ explores the themes of distance in a relationship - the chorus repeats the line ‘I don’t want you, but I need you’ and I think that is so powerful. Sometimes you might not know what’s best for you - and without knowing, you may be putting yourself in harm’s way. This song was originally written over a Zoom call and sounded extremely different to what it does now. I just couldn’t get it out of my head. Once I took it into the studio with Alex Markwell - everything pretty much fell together perfectly. The track just elevated, and we took everything to a whole new and exciting level. 

Who would you say are some of your greatest influences as an artist? Both musically and non-musically?

Amy Winehouse has always been a great influence on me as an artist. I fell in love with her music when I was a teenager and have been in love with it ever since. It’s so raw and simply beautiful. Jazz music in general has also heavily influenced me too. Jazz is very experimental, and at times very jarring - It has specific rules that are basically all designed to be broken, and I just love that. 

How do you keep yourself afloat and creatively active outside music?

I think the key to keeping yourself creative is to keep your mind healthy and happy. One thing that helps with this is cooking/baking - I’m obsessed! Cooking just makes me feel good, and in a weird way it is also super creative. Playing with different textures and flavours. It’s just really fun. I also love to keep active too - there’s nothing better than a big long walk to clear your head and get lost in your thoughts. 

What are some words of wisdom you would pass on to artists trying to get their foot in the door?

These things don’t happen overnight. The world of music is very much a grind - it’s not always glamorous and at times can be unforgiving. But the most important thing, and something that has taken me a few years to learn, is resilience.  

When was the moment you knew you wanted to pursue music?

I have loved singing ever since I was a little girl, so I knew that was something that I wanted to explore from a very young age. The older I got, the more obsessed with it I became - so I guess I just always knew. 

What would you say your goals are for the next year or so?

Just to release more music and make more music that I am truly proud of. Also, to keep pushing the boundaries and not to always stick to what feels safe. Wouldn’t mind playing a lot more shows too.