Still only 19 years old, Noella Usborne is a veteran of the alt-pop scene, starting at the age of 14 where she performed at every gig, pub or festival she could find her way into. She earned herself slots at the likes of Stroud Fringe, and Cheltenham Jazz Festival, where she busked, and sang at emerging talent features.Â
Her debut single, ‘Unrequited’, released last month, received praise from the likes of Stereo Stickman, and so her sophomore release, ‘Not A Chance’, out on April 19, should see similar acclaim.
As with ‘Unrequited’, ‘Not A Chance’ sees Noella return to collaborate with producer Sam Judd, one half of rising house duo, KOMODO. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Lorde, and Zara Larsson, Noella’s vocals are deep and penetrating, while the electronica infused instrumentals are sparse and provide a delicate platform for Noella’s voice. The song itself appears to be a follow-up to ‘Unrequited’ in more ways than one, with Usborne telling of a relationship that is going nowhere fast, where communication has broken down perhaps irrevocably. The singer is deeply contemplating whether she is able to trust the other ever again – indeed, can she trust anyone – she’s broken. The song is deeply personal, and the feeling is that it comes from personal experience.
Noella Usborne has seen tremendous support since the release of her debut, with fans and listeners coming from all over the world. ‘Unrequited’ received 12,000 streams on Spotify alone in its first week, with listeners coming from more than 67 countries. This saw the track come to the attention of Spotify’s editors, who added it to a “Fresh Finds” playlist, meaning her debut ranked her among many more established artists.
‘Not A Chance’ will be available on all major platforms from April 19. Find Noella Usborne online on Twitter. Listen to Noella’s previous release, ‘Unrequited’, on Spotify.
