Self Esteem has spoken to NME in regards to the challenges and doubts that feminine songwriters face, in addition to bringing her bold new album ‘A Difficult Girl’ to life. Watch our video interview above.
Rebecca Lucy Taylor, AKA Self Esteem, was in London yesterday (Thursday Could 22) the place she picked up the Visionary Award at The Ivors 2025 – the place the likes of U2, Robbie Williams, Brandon Flowers and Lola Younger all honoured.
“It means all the pieces,” she informed NME in regards to the ceremony that celebrates songwriters, and what she described as “honouring the little bit of this business that’s pure and true”. Successful an uphill battle to essential acclaim and to be revered as a voice after rising as one half of Gradual Membership, Taylor defined the obstacles that many females have to beat in music.
“To not begin happening about girls like I all the time do, however folks don’t assume girls write songs,” she argued. “It nonetheless will get questioned. Folks assume I’ve bought writers’ camps and all this stuff. No judgement when you try this, however it’s the artwork and I take ages over it. It ruins my life and all I do is attempt to create that artwork. I must.
“The older I get, the extra drained I’m and might’t be arsed to bitch about it. For somebody to note and care and inform me that I’m good at it’s like, ‘Thank god for that’.”
Taylor just lately launched her third album ‘A Difficult Girl’ – an bold document delivered to life through a theatrical stage present debuted on the West Finish.
“It was all in there, sadly, so it needed to come out,” mentioned the Sheffield singer-songwriter. “I took an enormous threat and my dwell present is now very costly. That was a disgrace, however I did that to myself. It was legacy stuff, actually. I’ve accomplished that now, and I do know what the following factor is.
“The nearer we get out right here to what it regarded like in there, each step is one nearer to me being peaceable.”
Now additionally boasting a profession on stage and display screen, having appeared in Cabaret and on Taskmaster amongst way more, Taylor just lately spoke of how she was “determined to diversify” along with her music business earnings leaving her “depressed and harassed”. Talking on the Ivors, she defined the way it was “not possible” to outlive as an artist.
“You’ve bought to wish that they pay you to carry a bottle of shampoo, which I hope somebody will,” she added. “It’s a unique recreation, however I got here into an business that was lengthy gone when it comes to being honest to an artist’s workload versus what’s in your checking account. It’s like, ‘Powerful shit, you’ve simply bought to do it’.
“I don’t compromise. I do what I can deal with whereas making an attempt to have a profession. I need a roof over my head. I wish to purchase my mum and pa a caravan.”
At the least she just lately acquired love from Madonna.
“Oh yeah, possibly she may give me extra money,” Taylor laughed. “That was wonderful.”
Taylor can be heading out on a headline tour later this yr with assist from Moonchild Sanelly – who beforehand teamed up with Taylor on ‘Large Man’ – showing on all dates, and Nadine Shah becoming a member of from October 3-18, for all nights bar the Brighton present. Tickets are on sale and obtainable right here.
Self Esteem’s 2025 ‘A Difficult Girl’ UK and Eire tour dates are:
SEPTEMBER
15 – O2 Academy, Birmingham
16 – Usher Corridor, Edinburgh
18 – O2 Metropolis Corridor, Newcastle
20 – Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow
21 – Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow
24 – 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin
27 – Academy, Manchester
28 – Academy, Manchester
29 – Academy, Manchester
OCTOBER
3 – Beacon, Bristol
4 – Beacon, Bristol
5 – Beacon, Bristol
9 – O2 Academy Brixton, London
10 – O2 Academy Brixton, London
11 – O2 Academy Brixton, London
17 – Brighton Centre, Brighton
18 – Utilita Area, Sheffield
The artist has mentioned her latest album was made “for stadiums” after taking inspiration from the likes of Coldplay and Biffy Clyro. “I don’t know the way the album’s going to get acquired, however then I’m additionally like, ‘I don’t give a fuck’, as a result of I’ve made what I wish to make,” she mentioned. “I feel it’s going to be an enormous problem, being a 38, 39-year-old lady placing a pop document out and getting it the place it must go.”