Holly Humberstone on pressure, pets and an expanded Cruel World
The singer discusses her second album, a new expanded edition and the personal experiences behind her songs.
Key points
- Holly Humberstone spoke to BBC News from her home in New Cross, south-east London.
- Her second album, Cruel World, reached fourth position in the UK rankings earlier in 2026.
- An expanded edition adds five new songs, largely written after the original album was finished.
- Her single Falling Asleep At The Wheel received a silver disc in May this year.
- She says stage nerves have grown since the album's release, and that vulnerability may be her strength.
Pop singer Holly Humberstone has described her latest music and personal life in an interview with BBC News. Speaking by video call from her home in New Cross, south-east London, she said she has been looking after a small black cat that keeps visiting her garden. She admitted that she and the people she lives with have been encouraging the animal to come inside with treats, although they say they try to send him back out each night.
A year of change at home
Humberstone’s parents sold the family home in Lincolnshire last year and moved to Wales, taking the family pets with them. One of the cats, Tsuki, appears in the song Lucy as a listener who never judges. The singer said her cat had not enjoyed city life, so the family sent her to Wales, where she could roam freely.
The Lincolnshire house, located about 20 minutes outside Grantham, has a strong link to her music. She wrote her early EPs there, and the indie-leaning sound of those releases grew from that setting. Her 2021 single Haunted House is dedicated to the spirits she imagined lived in the property.
During 2025 she spent much of her time sorting through 23 years of family belongings. She said the process left her feeling uprooted and unsure of herself, as she was also coming to terms with leaving childhood behind. She turned those feelings into her second album, Cruel World, which she describes as a kind of protective shield.
Cruel World and its expanded edition
Cruel World reached fourth place in the UK rankings earlier this year, the BBC reports. According to the broadcaster, the songs deal with heartbreak, a new romance and a sense of escape. Humberstone said some of the album leans towards fantasy, while other tracks are more personal, especially Beauty Pageant, which closes the record.
A new expanded edition contains five further songs. Humberstone said most of them were written after the first album was completed. She said that having a strong album behind her gave her room to try new ideas. The new material shows a more confident and playful side, with influences that include Abba, Madonna and Robyn.
One of the new singles, Too Cute To Be Lonely, is set at a house party. Another track, Silver Sky, was written in Nashville with co-writer Maddie Diaz. The pair worked in a garden, which Humberstone said inspired the song’s bright mood.
Pressure, school and mental health
Humberstone linked some of her attitudes to her time at an all-girls school in Grantham. She said she was taught to see classmates as rivals and to measure her worth by winning. She believes this experience affected how she viewed other young women.
Success has brought its own pressures. After winning the Brits Rising Star award in 2022, she said she felt compared with much bigger artists on her record label. She said she has since stopped measuring herself against peers, because she believes the need for validation does not disappear with achievement.
She also said her stage nerves have increased since Cruel World came out. She feels the album is her proudest work, which makes live shows harder. Even so, she believes audiences connect with performers who are not overly polished, and she thinks her openness may be her greatest strength.
Recognition and what comes next
Her single Falling Asleep At The Wheel received a silver disc in May this year, five years after its original release. Humberstone said she learned of the award during the BBC interview. She said she plans to keep making music that feels true to her and does not see a final destination in her career.
Frequently asked questions
What is Holly Humberstoneu0026#039;s latest album?
Her second album is called Cruel World, which reached fourth place in the UK rankings earlier this year. An expanded edition with five new songs has also been released.
Why did Holly Humberstone discuss her childhood home?
Her parents sold the family home in Lincolnshire last year and moved to Wales. She said the house played a major role in her early songwriting, and she spent 2025 packing up the familyu0026#039;s belongings.
What award did Holly Humberstone win in 2022?
She won the Brits Rising Star award in 2022, according to the BBC interview. She said the success brought pressure to compare herself with more established artists.
Sources
This article was written with the help of AI from reports by the outlets listed above. See our Editorial Policy. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
