An Interview With bbyclose
With over 10 million monthly listeners and a Brit Award nomination, bbyclose heads into 2026 embedded in global dance culture.
What first made you want to pursue music?
When I was growing up, I always felt shy and embarrassed of my desire to be a singer and musician. It wasn’t what kids got to do where I grew up. But I think it has always existed as a dream within me. I don’t remember a time where I wasn’t drawn to singing. I used to have a karaoke machine that I would record my made up songs to when I was about 6. I still have a few of the tapes and they are nonsense but the passion was there.
When did you realize this could become a serious career?
I used to watch people singing covers on the internet and some of them got record deals and went on to release their own music. I thought, if they can do it, I probably can too. I started taking it seriously when I was a teenager.
How did your early influences shape your sound?
I have been thinking about this a lot recently! Growing up I was exposed to tons of music from all genres. From The Ramones to Shania Twain to Sum 41 to Stevie Wonder. Theres little moments in my music where I can really see some of those influences. I recently dug back in to the album Tropical Brainstorm by Kirsty MacColl, I really think that album and her incredible writing influences my lyric choices a lot.
What did co-writing “Kisses” teach you about your own artistry?
That being myself is way better than trying to impersonate someone else. I wrote the melody for Kisses at home on my piano, and when I brought it into the studio we just had loads of fun with developing and finishing the idea. Sometimes you can get in your head during the creation process… thinking things like ‘does this song sound like a hit? Is this gonna make it on the radio?’ With Kisses there wasn’t any of that, it was just me and my friends vibing in the studio having fun. It taught me to just always be me in my musical expression.
How did collaborating with major DJs impact your confidence as a vocalist?
It’s been a riot. I think having DJs like Sub Focus and Fisher respond so positively to my melodies and lyrics has helped reinforce the trust I have in my ideas. Self belief is key.
At what point did you feel ready to step from “featured voice” into solo artist?
It might not look like it, but I’ve been developing and working at this craft for years and I was ready before any of my collaborations came out, but the opportunity was not there. I’ve learnt that value comes from putting my artistry into every song I write. So even though I may be listed as a ‘featured voice’, I still feel each song is mine as much as it is the DJ who is also on it with me. The collaborations I’ve done have given me this opportunity to step into my solo artistry, something I feel such gratitude for.
What inspired the emotional concept behind Dream About You?
I am a dreamer lover girl to my core. I’m fascinated by dreams and you will notice they come up in my lyrics a lot. With Dream About U, it’s about the everyday mundane moment being sprinkled with a little love and obsession. Pushing my trolley through Tesco, or sitting on the phone calling my wifi company. When you have a crush, even the most boring instant can feel a little colourful. I think that’s so wonderful.
How does this single expand the world you introduced with “ego”?
It introduces people to the slightly softer side of the bbyclose world. I’m a woman who can be unimpressed but also obsessed, which is kinda what I feel Ego and Dream About U embody. Being a girl means you have a rolodex of emotions that you flip through each day. I have a bbyclose song for every mood.
What does “romantic delusion as agency” mean to you personally?
I feel protective over the right to delusion. We all need an escape. Romantic delusion feels playful and hopeful to me, especially when modern dating can be such a drag and is so disconnected from the vitality of love. I think to have agency over your delusions is empowering and powerful.
Your visual world is very intentional — why is mystery so important to your brand?
In the space that I don’t give you, I’m curious to see what you allow of yourself to be there. The bbyclose world is about authentic self expression and I think there is a little bit of bbyclose in everyone.
How do you balance club energy with intimate, headphone moments in your music?
I love giving room for every emotion that I feel. It’s something I’ve learnt in the last few years is so healthy to do. I used to give myself a bit of a hard time for not being ‘one thing’. Now I embrace the parts of myself that sometimes feel in conflict with each other. I want to reflect that choice in my music too. So I like creating songs for different moods. For the club mood and the intimate moments. Working with different DJs and doing collaborations also helps bring that about and it’s such a fun way to push sonic exploration within the bbyclose world. I’ve got some music coming this year that feels like a new sonic space for bbyclose and I’m super excited by it.