Mabel

Mabel Artistfacts

  • February 19, 1996
  • Mabel is the youngest daughter of "Buffalo Stance" singer-songwriter Neneh Cherry and Massive Attack producer Cameron McVey.
  • Born in Malaga, Spain, Mabel's nomadic childhood included spells living in New York, Paris, West London and Sweden. She recalled to the Evening Standard how famous musicians such as REM's Michael Stipe would drop by. To the pre-teen Mabel, these were just "all my dad's annoying friends. Like, can I just get on with building this Lego?"
  • Mabel suffered from severe anxiety as a child. To help combat this, her parents encouraged her to learn an instrument, so she took up the piano.
  • During her time in Sweden, Mabel channelled her anxiety issues into songwriting classes at Stockholm's prestigious Rytmus music school where past students included Scandinavian pop stars Robyn and Tove Lo. "I'm still insecure, she told Q Magazine, "but there's a way to make that a positive thing. You can put all that in motion into dance music can still make people feel good."
  • Mabel started her own musical career in 2015 with her debut single "Know Me Better". The same year she had a small part in Skepta's "Shutdown" video. The hard part was convincing herself that she was destined for a life and pop. "I knew people thought my mum was an icon," she said. "So when I watched videos of her I thought, what are the odds I could do that as well? But there was nothing else I really lived for."
  • Her big breakthrough came a couple of years later when "Finders Keepers" reached the Top 10 in the UK.
  • Mabel has a half-brother on her father's side, Marlon Roudette, who is 13 years older than her. He had a UK Top 10 hit in 2014 with "When The Beat Drops Out."
  • Mabel married music executive Preye Crooks in an intimate ceremony in London on July 26, 2025. He's the son of former footballer Garth Crooks.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Hawksley Workman

Hawksley WorkmanSongwriter Interviews

One of Canada's most popular and eclectic performers, Hawksley tells stories about his oldest songs, his plentiful side projects, and the ways that he keeps his songwriting fresh.

Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers

Bill Medley of The Righteous BrothersSongwriter Interviews

Medley looks back on "Unchained Melody" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" - his huge hits from the '60s that were later revived in movies.

John Parr

John ParrSongwriter Interviews

John tells the "St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)" story and explains why he disappeared for so long.

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' Albums

We Will Rock You (To Sleep): Pop Stars Who Recorded Kids' AlbumsSong Writing

With the rise of Kindie rock, more musicians are embracing their inner child with tunes for tots - here, we look at pop stars who recorded kids' albums.