Skye Newman: from a cabin to Brit award nominations

Skye Newman, 22, is on course for pop stardom with two Brit award nominations while living in a cabin at the bottom of her sister’s garden in London. Her song Hairdresser — its video, in which she lounges with friends, has racked up 7.5m views — showcases her ballad-driven contemporary soul, often focused on heartbreak and recrimination.

Her biggest song to date, Family Matters, is nominated for song of the year and lays bare the pain of her upbringing: police calls, drug abuse at home and a brush with death that led to two life-threatening seizures. Fans have compared her to Amy Winehouse and Adele, though Newman was twice rejected from the Brit school and instead broke through by posting performance videos during the Covid lockdown.

She has been cautious about the industry, saying, "I come from a vulnerable background and there are vultures in this world." Newman has supported artists including Lewis Capaldi and performed with Ed Sheeran at his Ipswich homecoming.

United Kingdom, London

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