INTERVIEW: Mimi Webb talks latest single 'Dumb Love' and her career to date: "I want people to feel goosebumps from my music."
Interview: Jett Tattersall
The UK’s Mimi Webb is one of this years most exciting breakthrough artists. With an absolutely killer voice and an ability to create incredibly polished pop songs that are both emotionally raw and full of soul and addictive melodies, she is an artist that cannot be ignored.
Webb started writing her own music at 13 and first uploaded music to the internet in 2019. She quickly attracted attention and soon had a manager and a record deal with Epic Records. Her debut single ‘Before I Go’ blew up on TikTok and has had over 24 millions on Spotify to date. This year has seen Webb break through to the mainstream with a UK top 10 hit single ‘Good Without’ and her latest single ‘Dumb Love’ has hit the top 20 in the UK and is making its way up the charts in Australia.
Inspired by artists such as Amy Winehouse, Emeli Sandé, and Sam Smith, Webb combines contemporary pop with classical, soul and jazz music and promises to achieve major success in the coming years. We recently caught up with Mimi to find out more.
Hi Mimi! Firstly, I want to say congratulations on ‘Dumb Love’. It has shot through into people's hearts and sound speakers instantly. How have you been getting on, and navigating the huge success you have found this year?
It's definitely been taking it day by day. Be with your family, your friends and making sure you're doing everything you love to do and just keeping your head focused. It's honestly been amazing.
You've been writing for yourself for a very long time, but we're only getting to hear your gems now. With 'Dumb Love' can you talk to me through the creation of it?
It was just creating the pop drums and production and putting that in with the classical melodies. It was so surreal, because when it all kind of came together, it sounded like one, but we kind of took two different elements within the genres and put them together.
Your voice is just incredible. You're also a songwriter, and quite often songwriters go, 'oh, no, I just I write or I just play music' and but were you always aware that you had this magical bird living inside your body that needed to come out and sing to the world?
I've always had a really husky voice. My mum always knew that my voice was very husky. But I realised the last year or two that I like to go quite high [as well]. It was something new that I learned with my vocal coach and trying to get that in control was really fun.
What was it that made you want to learn the guitar, learn to sing, get onstage? Who were those artists that you pretended to be?
I loved Adele, I always got such goosebumps from her music. That was the reason I just always wanted to do music was having that goosebumps feeling - I wanted people to feel that from my music.
When you're writing, where do your inspirations come from?
It's definitely my stories. Something will happen and I'll create this big drama around it, and I'll just get in the studio and start jotting it down. It's all very much my personal experiences and what I go through.
You are part of a new generation of musicians like Tate McRae and Griff that started creating music in their bedrooms and they're now being heard. What is the best advice that you've been given, that you would then give to aspiring artists such as yourself?
Take everything in, let it soak in, be very organised, and do your best. Don't let anything get to you, try and just be really focused. And be around your family and friends, all those important things that matter in your life. You've got to make sure you keep those close to you, because that's how you can be happy.
And on your journey, who are the amazing mentors that have helped you on your journey?
My creative director, Cassandra Gracey, is incredible. She's an amazing creative queen and she's been in the industry for so long. She's been with Ellie Goulding, Rita Ora and just really helped the image and artistry come through within their project. It's just amazing having incredible people on your team who are such great guides in the industry to help you really understand how it works,
Beautiful. And lastly, what is on the horizon for you?
I've got my tour in October, I'm so so excited. It's going to be my first tour, and it's going to be around the UK. And then next year, lots of exciting stuff. I've got really exciting new music coming by the end of the year, something very big coming. I'm very excited to just get it all going.
‘Dumb Love’ is out now via Sony Music. You can download on iTunes and stream on Apple Music and Spotify.
To keep up with all things Mimi Webb you can follow her on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
