It’s been a whirlwind couple of years for once Sheffield-rooted now London-based neo-pop performer abs. Since we last caught up, she’s toured the UK, opened the Leadmill stage at Tramlines and dropped her debut self-titled EP. Now, with her brand-new single ‘Stellar Collision’ making waves, abs is ready to take on the rest of 2025 with renewed energy. I caught up with the upcoming artist to talk about her musical evolution, Sheffield’s lasting influence on her artistry and what’s next.
Your new single ‘Stellar Collision’ is out now – what’s the story behind it?
This song actually came together in just an hour. I wrote it with my partner, Zach Masho – he’s a bassist and producer who’s worked with a lot of artists in the Sheffield music scene. One morning, we woke up, and he said ‘let’s write a song today,’ so we did. He asked me what genre I wanted to go for, and I told him I had this playlist called Hot AF, which didn’t have any of my songs on it yet. And so that’s how the song was born – I wanted to create something that would fit in with my playlist, inspired by artists like D’Angelo, Jacob Banks and Lianne La Havas.
Zach started playing this really cool guitar part, and from there, I just started writing lyrics. I then took it to my band in rehearsal and they helped build up the parts. We ended up performing it on my UK tour last year before officially releasing it in October. It came together so naturally- that’s one of the reasons why I love it because it just felt like it was meant to happen in that moment.
How does it compare to your past releases?
As an artist, I don’t believe in sticking to just one style – I think you should write based on how you feel. But right now, I am absolutely loving jazzy, neo-soul-inspired music. It’s very chilled, very cool, and I love that my band is on it as well. It’s all live recorded, which makes it different from my previous, more electronic-leaning work. This one is much more down the neo-soul route and I think that’s where I’m at.
Since we last spoke, you’ve toured the UK, played Tramlines and released an EP. How does it feel looking back?
It’s honestly crazy because I do think that it is quite a lot to have achieved in a very short space of time especially for an upcoming artist. When I look back, it reminds me that people are connecting with what I’m doing – people are showing up to gigs and booking me -it proves that I’m on the right track and that’s reassuring.
I only celebrated my second anniversary with my band the other week, so to have done all this in just two years is something I’m really proud of. It’s a testament to not just my talent but how hard I have worked and everything I have put into this.
What have been the biggest highlights for you? What’s been the most rewarding part of your growth as an artist?
Touring was definitely one of my proudest achievements. I was lucky enough to get funding from Help Musicians, who supported the tour and gave me expert advice. That in itself was massive because funding applications are so competitive and rejection gets disheartening. I actually got rejected the first time, but I took a massive leap of faith – I booked the tour and then applied for funding, hoping I’d get it.
I cannot even describe how much work and time it took to manage the whole tour myself. I was working a full-time job, then spending every spare moment on admin, emails, promo, and rehearsals. I am very lucky to have had my partner who massively supported me throughout the tour. It was exhausting, but it was also the best week of my life. We played seven shows across the UK and sold out two of them all while connecting with fans who I still speak to now. It was such a rewarding and emotional experience, when we finished the last gig, the band and I were all in tears but it was just such a proud moment for us all.
Any unexpected challenges along the way that shaped your journey?
Funding is my biggest challenge in everything as a musician. I have so many big ideas, but I can’t afford a single one of them. I’ve got around 10 songs written or in demo form, but I don’t have the money to properly finish and record them the way I’d like – with my full band in a studio. I’m also working a full-time job, which makes it difficult to dedicate as much time to music as I’d like. Doing music full-time is the dream, but I can’t afford it and I think that’s the sad truth for most independent musicians.
Even though you’re based in London now, how has Sheffield continued to shape your music?
I went to university in Sheffield, and that’s where I started as an artist and met my band which is still based there, so I travel back and forth for rehearsals and gigs. I felt it was time for me to expand my horizon, so I moved to London where I have met so many more artists of my genre. But Sheffield is my roots and the music scene is so supportive – Exposed Magazine was the first to interview me, and Tramlines gave me that huge opportunity. I have a lot of love for Sheffield and I will always be coming back because I have fans there, I have my band there and I don’t want to lose that connection – it really shaped who I am as an artist.
I was heartbroken when Dorothy Pax shut down – it was such an important venue for upcoming artists. Sheffield’s music scene is so intimate, and the venues play a huge role in supporting musicians. It’s such a loss for the music scene. Without the musicians, the venue struggles and without the venues, the musicians struggle.
What’s next – more singles, an album, another tour?
I’m working on my second EP at the moment and would love to release it this year, but it all depends on money. I have definitely got my second bad bitch anthem which I debuted at my sold-out London headline gig, and the reaction was wild, so that one is definitely coming. I feel really creative at the moment. I could have a conversation with someone, hear one line and it inspires a whole song.
Gigging is my main priority right now. Personally, I connect with people best through my live shows and that’s how I build my audience in the most organic way. I do have a couple small festivals coming up which I can’t announce just yet but that’s very exciting too. I was shortlisted for Tramlines again, so whether that happens or not, I would love to do that again.
Stellar Collision is out now. Follow @absmusic for the latest updates.
