London Is Lonely

Album: single release only (2022)
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Songfacts®:

  • Born in Grantham, Lincolnshire, Holly Humberstone grew up in a happy, creative household, where she made up songs from poetry books. When the young singer-songwriter moved to London, it was a shock to her system after life in rural Lincolnshire. With no friends in the big city, she found it isolating and alienating.

    Humberstone wrote this poignant track in February 2020, just before the COVID pandemic. It documents her story of moving to London and feeling disconnected and lonely. "I had just moved out of my childhood home down to London and had spent the past few months feeling really trapped and alone in my tiny flat with strangers," Humberstone said of the song. "London felt so intense and although there were so many people around me, I felt even more isolated and like I didn't belong."
  • Humberstone's musical right-hand man, former Dog Is Dead singer Rob Milton, produced the song.
  • Humberstone plays the piano on the track. The other musicians are:

    Guitar: Rob Milton
    Percussion: Rob Milton
    Trombone: Lee Smith
    Trumpet: Trevor Mires
    Saxophone: Reuben Fowler
  • David M Helman directed the video, filming it in a disused railway tunnel in London. "I wanted this video to sum up how I felt when I first moved to London, when I was spinning out of control and awaiting an imminent collision," said Humberstone. "It looks like a lucid dream as I try to remain centered."

    Helman's other video credits include Michael Kiwanuka's "Cold Little Heart," Gucci Mane featuring The Weeknd's "Curve," and Mø featuring Diplo's "Sun In Our Eyes."

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