Mimi Webb Talks Embracing Change and the Messier Parts of Life With Her New Album, Confessions

English pop phenomenon Mimi Webb is finally ready to confess her truth, moving into a new musical era with the release of her eagerly anticipated sophomore album, Confessions.

The album, out today, Sep. 12, sees Mimi shedding the sweet and lighthearted approach of her 2023 debut, Amelia, and opening up about the chaotically messy aspects of change and growing up. Not only has this meant exploring different parts of herself to become more authentic, fearless and honest than ever, but she's also dug into new realms musically. Its 12 tracks are more varied and unpredictable, but remain just as infectiously listenable as ever.

She'll also be bringing the album to the stage for the very first time later this month when The Confessions Tour across Europe kicks off on Sep. 29. Leading up to the shows, Mimi has invited fans to participate in Mimi's Confessions, allowing them to anonymously submit their own confessions that might be featured on her website, social media or even be shared from the stage on tour. Ahead of today's release, we had the pleasure of chatting with Mimi about all things Confessions. You can listen to the album in full HERE, and keep scrolling to read our full interview with Mimi below.

Sweety High: What does the album title Confessions mean to you? Where did that concept come from, and why did that closing title track feel like it encapsulated this collection of songs?

Mimi Webb: I feel like this album is a bit like a biography of my life over the last two to three years. It was very inspired by the quote, "unexpected turn of events," because as I've grown up into my 20s, when I look back at when I was 21, I'm a completely different person. I always think to myself, wow, you never really know what's in front of you. You never know what's what's going to happen. That was my big inspiration, what I wanted the album to based around.

But then that didn't really even touch the surface. It felt like I was confessing to this kind of chaos within me. I'd been playing this act of the perfect pop girl. Everything was pink, pink, pink, all very light-hearted and fairy tale-mode, whereas actually, there was a lot more depth to me as a person. There was a lot more darkness when it came to the chaos and the kind of imperfect-perfect that I had, that makes me who I am and that I'm proud to be.

So, when I dived into this album and into that name, Confessions, that felt like it was part of me, because it already felt like I was telling that story—confessing the truth and not hiding behind anything any longer. Confessions  felt like the perfect title and story to go down.

(Confessions via Epic Records)

 

SH: Was it scary at all letting go of that picture-perfect image of yourself and deciding it was time to really dive into the messier parts of your identity?

MW: Yeah, it's definitely scary, but also I needed it. I needed more depth. I wasn't inspired anymore, I wasn't happy, because I was living in this world that wasn't my world. When you do that, you end up breaking your soul a little bit, because you're trying to be something you're not. When you start getting caught up in that web and going further down that hallway,  you start slowly losing yourself.

I had to pull everything back, check myself mind, body and soul. What do I feel is right? What's my instinct saying and guiding me to? The answer was just to be me. Be honest. Go deeper and break that fourth wall and allow myself to be more vulnerable. That's what switched me back on, turned on my instincts and my senses and inspired me to make the album.

 

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SH: How have the fans been reacting so far to you dialing into this different, more truthful, side of yourself?

MW: I think they've grown with me. I was 22 when I dropped my last album, so we've had nearly three years and all kind of grown together. I was 20 or 21 when I dropped "Good Without" and "House on Fire," my first few songs. We've all been through a lot more of life and real situations, and we can all go deeper and embrace the darkness and the chaos of having lived a bit more. I think we're all in the same headspace. We're all a bit nervous because this is new, but the new change is good. It's what we need, because if we stayed where we were, we never would grow and evolve.

(Photo credit: Tyrell Hampton)

 

SH: Production-wise, how do you feel like you've sonically captured that newly embraced darkness and chaos on this album?

MW: Sonically, it was the funnest record to make because each song has its own department, like its own sonic language where nothing really sounds the same. It's been really fun to dive into the darker beats with "Side Effects" and then into more emotional ballads, the kind of classic, Mimi sound that I used to do with "You Don't Look at Me the Same." It was really nice to be able to turn around and not be just one thing. I'm made up of so many different things. I'm not going to decide to just rep one thing and be one thing. I want to be everything that I am.

 

SH: How do you feel that these songs represent where you are in life right now?

MW: They're very current for sure. Honestly, that's something I love about this album. None of the songs are from years and years ago, like there was with a song on my first album that I wrote when I was 18. I can relate to it all. It's all very now and in the present, which is so much fun because it's more therapeutic. It makes me so much more excited to perform the songs because it is so current.

 

SH: You also released "Narcissist" this week, ahead of the album. Can you tell us about the track?

MW: The song is so fun. I love being bitter. I love to be able to be able to say, "You did me wrong, and I'm going to drop a song." To be honest, I never really knew what "Narcissist" meant, because everyone would define narcissism in different ways. One day, I was talking about the situation that the lyrics are very, very much telling a story about,  and the boys that I wrote with—Jordan Riley and Tom Mann—were like, "That sounds like a narcissist." I was like, "Wait, I really want to figure this one out,  what does that really mean?" So we dug deep and then ended up writing this really great song.

It's got some chaos, some fun. There's a bit of sarcasm. It's very tongue-in-cheek, bit there's bitterness to it, and this kind of revenge mood. I've always loved to do that. It's also got a really cool groove and a little bop vibe to it. It's got everything in there, and I feel like dropping that one just before the album's a really fun tease. It's a bit different to what I've normally done.

 

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SH: Do you have a favorite song on the album?

MW: I honestly, I don't have a favorite— I have a top four. "Narcissist," "Side Effects," "Rom Com" and "Kiss My Neck."

 

SH: Tell us about the inspiration behind Mimi's Confessions.

MW: We want to do something really fun on the tour, which starts Sep. 29. Mimi's Confessions is a cool activation that lets the fans get involved. It's very anonymous, but to be able to drop a bomb, a little word vomit, on someone will be so fun to do onstage. I'm excited for people to drop their tea and their gossip. Drop it while it's hot!

(Photo credit: Tyrell Hampton)

 

SH: How do you feel you've evolved as an artist and as person since the release of your first album, Amelia?

MW: I feel like a grown-up, that's for sure. There's still a long way to go, but I love being able to evolve and look back and be wowed by the difference and how I've changed. That's what Confessions is really about—being honest with yourself and realizing what's changed and how the people around you might change. It's being being super honest with ourselves and being able to accept who we are and where we're at when we look in the mirror. About not feeling ashamed or uncomfortable about it, but knowing we're on the way to growing into our best versions of ourselves. That's how I felt throughout this album—growing up and hoping people feel inspired by Confessions. 

 

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