“Writing and creating my EP “Growing Pains” has been a journey that has been so good for my soul. I really wanted to create something from scratch independently,” begins Connie Talbot, a Birmingham-born and raised singer and songwriter, in the rollout of her newest musical project, a highly anticipated 4-track EP. “Growing Pains” narrates the young artist’s journey through the ebbs and flows of love, loss, and learning about herself. “Working with some incredible writers has been a dream. Emily, Ant, Alfie, Cameron have quite literally been my therapists. Putting thoughts into lyrics and into songs has been a form of therapy that I can revisit whenever I want,” she continues.

The EP is composed of the title track “Growing Pains,” an introspective song that explores the enduring challenges of maturation, and three other tunes, “Easier Pretending You’re Dead,” “Broken Heart,” and “Roses.” “I have always loved that music can make you feel something, and for me, music has always been a constant in my life that I can rely on. If one of these songs can help someone, I will be happy,” she says. “The overall message that I would love people to take from this EP is that it’s okay to learn lessons from experience, it’s okay to feel those emotions intensely, lean into them, and grow from them. That’s why we call them growing pains.”

Here, we sat down with Connie to take a deep dive into her creative process of writing this EP, where she plans to take her music next, and why Post Malone would be her dream musical collaboration.

Listen to the EP…

Read the full interview…

Hey Connie! How are you? What does a day in the life look like for you currently?
Hi! Thank you so much for having me! I always am so grateful that I get to do music in my life everyday and a day in my life is often different which is something I love. I suppose right now, I am in creative mode again so I will be writing at home on my own or co-writing which I love. The plan is to keep releasing music consistently so a lot of writing! I spent a few days in Switzerland last week performing in a courtyard which was incredible, so just going with the flow and every day being different is something I am so grateful for and cherish.

Who have been inspirations to you both musically and professionally?
I listen to so much music present and past, and I am so grateful for all those influences in my life and in my music. For the Growing Pains EP, I wanted to include some classic influences like Bowie which I think is translated in “Roses” and I was really inspired by the cinematic feeling modern artists like Lana and Billie have in their songs and production. Growing up, my parents were not really musical but one album that reminds me of my childhood and was played over and over was “Listen Without Prejudice” by George Michael and I always listen to that album now, its just so nostalgic for me and I think it plays a part in how I write melodies today.

How did you first discover the sonic pocket in which you now create? Was it through trial and error or natural to you?
I think I have always had an idea of how I want my songs to sound, I have always loved the idea of sweet lullaby-ish melodies with a darker more cinematic production. When I first met Emily Phillips and Ant Whiting in our first ever session, I felt like there was an instant click and we wrote “Just A Broken Heart” in our first ever session which is on this EP. I felt completely understood and I will always be grateful because I feel like “Just A Broken Heart” was the anchor to continue writing the rest of the EP.

How would you define the essence of your artistry?
When I created Growing Pains EP, the running theme for me was growth, looking back at the struggles, knowing that that’s what has lead up to this point. There definitely is some darker production elements and lyrics to the EP, but the overall theme is to grow from those low points and carry on learning and growing. Inevitably, I think there are still “Growing Pains” to come but what has always been a constant for me, has been my passion and the calm and healing I feel for creating music. So overall, I would say the essence of my artistry is being fluid, changing as I change as a person and trying to be the most authentic version of myself.

Who would be a dream collaboration of yours to work with?
This one, I feel like could be a bit of a shock because I would say that he is in a completely different lane of music to me, but I am a HUGE fan of Post Malone. I think I would pass out if I was to ever feature on a Post Malone song. He’s just so cool, and I feel like he’s not afraid to lyrically and musically change which is inspiring for me.

Congratulations on your highly anticipated project “Growing Pains”! Tell us about the message behind the project?
Thanks so much! I was so nervous to release “Growing Pains” the EP, because I felt like I was practically releasing the pages of my diary. For me, I wrote Growing Pains about the struggles of growing up in the industry. There have been lows, but so many incredible moments too. I wouldn’t change a thing though, and that’s why I wanted to think of those struggles as Growing Pains. I wanted people to take comfort in the fact that its okay to not have your whole life together and its okay to change. Its okay to feel pain from the struggles in your life, everyone does and all we can do is lean into them, grow from them and see them as growing pains, just something we had to go through to heal and become wiser.

Talk to us about the creative process behind the project?
I co-wrote the EP with some incredibly talented people who I am so lucky to call my friends. Emily Phillips, Cameron Warren and Ant Whiting. I feel like writing the songs was almost like therapy for me. Talking through stories and putting those emotions into a feeling and lyrics. I have enjoyed every second of the creative process.

How does “Growing Pains” differ from your other releases?
I suppose the biggest difference is that everything I have released before has been as a child. A lot of the music was covers. As much as I loved releasing music as a child, now as an adult- I suppose I have lived life a bit more and have the chance to write about real emotions and real stories. Also, this EP has been released completely independently which has been amazing because I have been able to have creative freedom and the whole process has been so empowering.

Where do you wish to take your artistry within the next few years?
I want to keep on writing music, and I want to keep writing about real feelings and real things that have happened. Most importantly, these songs from the EP hold a special place in my heart and a moment and emotion in my life I can always revisit. I hope that people can also relate, and take something from these songs. I want to keep doing that!

What can we expect from Connie Talbot for the rest of 2023?
I suppose more BTS in creative mode for now, but I hope that sooner rather than later more releases! I have loved seeing songs go from nothing to watching people sing them and relate to them. I have songs in the archive that I am so excited for. Thank you!