Author: Anastaseea
Author’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/itsanastaseea/
Photographer: @jamieleeculver
In the diverse London music scene, Seymour, an emerging singer-songwriter and artist, is slowly but surely carving her space with her poignant lyrics and pop melodies. At 23, her music reveals depth and complexity, as she touches upon heavy topics drawn from her own personal experiences, but delivers them in an uplifting and energetic way.
Originally from Kent, she started writing songs at fourteen years old, but she was too embarrassed to tell people about them, as they were a way to cope with her challenging surroundings. Though her family and friends were really supportive, growing up in Maidstone was difficult for Seymour, due to the misogynistic undertones of the town during her childhood, which involved alcohol and manipulative relationships, and the combination of these led her to struggle mentally. Her songs draw meaning and inspiration from her experiences, and some of them touch upon feminism too – yet a first-time listener wouldn’t know exactly what she’s singing about due to her cryptic metaphors and abstract lyrics. The first song she wrote is called ‘Long Grass’, a dark composition about wishing to be in the long grass of a field with a bottle of alcohol in her hand.
Being influenced primarily by Amy Whinehouse, The Smiths, and Arctic Monkeys, she released her first single ‘Knuckles’ in November 2022, an upbeat song with smooth vocals and an addictive guitar riff. Written when she was sixteen years old, the song is about toxic relationships, and the feeling of not wanting something, but simultaneously feeling drawn to it. July 2023 saw the release of ‘Discreet’, a song about drinking and partying to escape problems, and feeling very confused deep down. Written while she was very drunk on her way home in a taxi, Seymour typed the lyrics on her phone, however the day after she saw that many of the words weren’t typed clearly at all, due to her being intoxicated. ‘Chains’ has a dynamic chorus with a prominent electric guitar, and is Seymour’s way of expressing
anger at being in a manipulative relationship with a 23-year-old when she was in her mid teens, and the
fear she felt of not being able to escape. A slower and more atmospheric song, ‘Meet in the Kitchen’ describes someone with negative views on relationships finally finding a person that can be relied on.
While the topics she writes about are heavy and serious, Seymour explained that the lively moods create a contrast that makes listening to her songs, either recorded or live, very enjoyable for her audience. She believes that people who have gone through similar situations will find it easy to be comforted with her music, as she describes her songs as “unserious but also very serious”.
In terms of her place in the music industry, Seymour opened up about the difficulties of being a female artist in a male-dominated field. She explained that she has worked with male musicians and producers in the past who have been very patronising towards her, and on occasion ridiculed her and her skills. Expanding on this, she said that it is very common for female musicians to feel disrespected by their male peers, and to be ignored when talking about their music and their creative processes. The singer has often felt conflicted on working with male musicians that are incredibly talented, but have a tendency to belittle her.
Seymour’s break from live performances was due to the stress and the pressures of playing frequent shows, but she’s making a strong comeback in 2024. This year will be a busy one for the artist, as she will be releasing two singles throughout January and February, and an EP in March, as well as playing live shows around London. Her next single, ‘Blood on my hands’, was released on 26/01/2024, and was celebrated with a release party on the same day, with a few other artists supporting her live set. This song was written when Seymour was nineteen, and it delves into the feeling of guilt when leaving someone who was controlling. Right at the end of her interview, she mentioned that while she grew up in a difficult environment, she’s always had supportive friends that have encouraged her to pursue music, and that she wouldn’t have been able to release frequently without them.
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