Self Esteem announces new album ‘A Complicated Woman’ and shares lead single ‘Focus Is Power’
Self Esteem has announced her third album, A Complicated Woman. Following up her Mercury Prize-nominated sophomore release, Prioritise Pleasure, her new single ‘Focus Is Power’ is an affirmative message regarding her place in the music world.
In 2021, Self Esteem’s second album, Prioritise Pleasure, saw her levelling up from underground hero to cult icon. After her performances at Glastonbury and countless other festivals on the live circuit, her name was spread around as a must-see act thanks to her own brand of powerful pop that shared strong messages of self-worth and empowerment through her uniquely poetic yet left-field lyrics.
After kissing goodbye to that era, Rebecca Lucy Taylor sidestepped for a moment to perform in Cabaret in London’s West End as Sally Bowles. It seems that this move into the world of musical theatre has proved deeply inspiring as her new track, ‘Focus Is Power’ is packed with the kind of building tension and relief and the strong sense of character that the stage is built for.
“And now I see it clear / With every passing of each year / I deserve to be here,” the chorus sings as Taylor’s voice merges with a choir of backing singers. Reflecting on a time when she felt hopeless or defeated, the song sings a strong message about reclaiming power in a sexist world and her defiant determination against things that might hold her back.
‘Focus Is Power’ is the first teaser from her next album, A Complicated Woman, which will arrive on April 25th, 2025. When sharing the tracklist for the record, Taylor also revealed features with Nadine Shah, Sue Tompkins and Moonchild Sanelly on the record.
Talking about the album last at Sheffield’s Crossed Wires festival last June, Taylor said, “There’s loads of themes on the next album about being at the bottom of the next fucking hill, it’s never over.”
In the same conversation with Adam Buxton in Sheffield, Taylor said, “My other little dream is that I’m going to do another album, still living in the same Self Esteem world, but then I wanna do an album with Richard Hawley.”
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