There is cause for celebration—the sun is out in London, finally, and 28-year-old Mabel has gifted us a new single to play. The track, ‘Female Intuition,’ is anthemic, a staunch, sultry tribute to trusting your gut. Since speaking to Cosmopolitan Australia, another song, Chat, has been released. “There’s something about the frequency it lives in which makes me feel good. Sometimes it doesn’t need to be more complicated than that.”
Gleaming in the morning light, Mabel appears over Zoom energised, remarkable given the singer has spent the summer touring Europe. Paris first then Portugal, with slots at Barcelona’s Primavera Sound, Poland’s Open’er Festival and Denmark’s Roskilde Festival, before crossing the Atlantic to New York City. In New York, Strand Book Store is always her first destination; here she stocks up on titles like ‘The Guest’ and ‘My Year of Rest and Relaxation’—a “relatable” read, the musician confesses (she has a reputation among family and friends as a homebody).
Between shows, Mabel is writing songs and enjoying her role as aunt; her sister has just given birth and the pair frequently visit her home studio. “We’ve been making music with my niece in the room,” she says. Let’s just say this early acquaintance with music is a family tradition. Mabel’s mum is ’80s icon Neneh Cherry; her dad, the Massive Attack producer Cameron McVey, and her step-grandfather, free jazz pioneer Don Cherry. “Growing up, we all had disparate tastes but there were some albums we could agree on,” she says. She cites The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Destiny’s Child’s The Writing’s on the Wall, and Stevie Wonder. Her most polarising pick when in charge of the speakers? “Definitely Avril Lavigne; everyone was bugging but I was obsessed.”
Nearly a decade has passed since Mabel broke out with her debut single ‘Finders Keepers.’ Since then, she’s collaborated with names like RAYE, Shygirl, Burna Boy and AJ Tracey, and found success in the UK charts. At times, it’s been difficult. “Doing what I do, there can be so many cooks in the kitchen.”
She’s candid about feeling lost. This past year, Mabel has strived to unlock the excitement and creative freedom of her early days in music, while also pushing her sound further. “There’s so much to be inspired by if you’re willing to be open to it,” she says. A key to longevity is recognising when she’s not feeling it and not forcing it. Letting go of fear has also altered her voice. “It’s crazy what fear will do to your body.”
‘Female Intuition’ was an anomaly in that it “poured out” of her. It’s a reminder that “if I tune out the noise, I can solve my own problems”. In moments of uncertainty, she hears her mum’s words: ”Can you own it?” If the answer’s affirmative, Mabel knows she’s on the right track.
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This article originally appeared in Issue 02 of Cosmopolitan Australia. Get your copy and subscribe to future issues here.
