Graham Clark, Music Correspondent
In Conversation With Bella Cutts
Yes, absolutely. However, it would be incorrect to say the song is written about one particular person but more a series of experiences.
We've all experienced relationships, romantic or otherwise, that feel very one-sided. My curiosity has led me to where I am today: the amazing places I've visited, the people I've met and the stories I've heard.
When I first started dating, I felt as if many of the relationships I formed with boys were capped by our differences in values. Their interest in me felt surface level, and as we know, true meaningful connections take more time and energy to build. Dating someone who isn’t innately curious meant the deeper connection I was seeking would always be out of reach with them.
How hard is it for new artists, especially independent ones, to get their music to a wider audience in today's musical landscape?
Definitely not easy!
For me, busking and performing live is where the most meaningful connections happen, with people who actively choose to stop and listen and hopefully connect to my music.
I grew up making ‘Musical.lys’ with my cousin before it became TikTok, so I'm no stranger to the apps, but promoting yourself is never easy.
Yes and no.
I first started my music account on Instagram simply to have something to show pubs when I was trying to get gigs while studying. Very quickly, though, it became a place where industry people could discover me. It’s connected me with amazing people I would have never otherwise met and even brought old friends back into my life from all over the world.
In many ways that's helped my career, because being a solo artist can be both nerve-racking and lonely.
As for whether social media has helped my overall career success, it's still too early to say. I see so many artists my age sharing beautiful original music, yet they often receive very little attention. We support each other, and there's a real sense of community and mutual understanding that each bit of support or engagement is so appreciated.
But it's a double-sided coin. There's also competition, desperation and jealousy. We're all trying to use social media to move our careers forward, but so much of it depends on chance, luck and algorithms.
Did you always want to be a musician?
I wanted to be many things, and still do; I love writing and performing, but singing has always been at the epicentre of it all. I have been performing for as long as I can remember; my parents would come home from work and patiently sit by the piano whilst I played them all the songs I’d written that day. These little evening shows could go on for hours; my audience consisted of two people, and they’ve remained my biggest supporters.
My dad even created a 'stage' in my bedroom, so my friends and I had a space to put on 'shows' without taking over the entire sitting room.
Are you planning to go on tour?
Yes! One day soon, I hope… If you'd told me a year ago I'd be doing this interview, I wouldn't have believed you, so I genuinely believe anything can happen. I’ve written so many songs that I would love the opportunity to record and perform!
Who were your musical influences growing up?
The first CD I remember us having as children was Introducing Joss Stone. There's a track called Change where Vinnie Jones delivers a monologue and says, "You've gotta have the balls to change." That's one of my earliest musical memories; I must have been about three. It’s always felt emblematic of the world trip I didn’t yet know I was about to embark on.
Adele, Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen were definitely my biggest influences. I used to feel self-conscious because even when I was little, I still had a low voice and so was an alto in our school choir; I was sad I didn’t get to stand next to my friends who were all sopranos – but never that sad – I just loved to sing.
As I got older, I fell head over heels for the pop stars of the time: Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, One Direction, Zara Larsson, Justin Bieber and Bruno Mars, just to name a few.
Then, when I came to England for school at 13, I discovered a whole new world of music. From Stevie Wonder to Norah Jones to Paulo Nutini and everythinbetween, I love it all.ween. I truly love all music and have always struggled to pick just one genre as my favourite to listen to or to sing.
Having lived in a number of different countries, do you have a favourite?
That's such a lovely question, thank you for asking it.
Sudan and Myanmar are where I spent my formative years, and they'll always have a special place in my heart. But if I had to choose, I'd say Sudan.
I was five when we moved to Khartoum, as my dad was running the UN aid operation and my mum was a journalist. Starting a new school was scary, but my two older brothers made sure I was never alone. The people in Sudan are incredibly kind, warm and genuine, and they were wonderful role models for us as children. I think we all benefited from growing up surrounded by a culture that was much warmer than our own in England.
We quickly settled into life there, as children often so quickly do. The school was brilliant; my teachers were wonderful. There wasn’t much on offer entertainment-wise outside of school. So, we spent our childhood outside, playing games, riding scooters and bikes, making potions in the sand and camping by the Nile on the weekends. It was always so hot in Sudan, so our concerts were outdoors in the evening when it was a bit cooler, and that’s where I made my first school musical debut, singing - Someone Like You by Adele.
It breaks my heart that this wonderful country has been torn apart by war; our school no longer exists – all my friends who lived there have had to flee. The same is true for Myanmar – a military coup has crushed all the hope people had for its future. For all the problems we have in this country, and I know a lot of people are struggling at the moment, it’s good to remember how lucky we are.
With a background of mixed heritage, do you have more than one passport?
I’ve been asked this lots growing up. I’ve had many passports due to running out of pages from travelling so much as a child, but no, just one UK passport.