Luckily for us, there’s more on the way in the form of a second studio album. Not to mention, a diary jam packed with more live shows supporting RAYE and Renee Rapp in 2026. In the meantime, however, Absolutely sat down with Principle following an artsy shoot in London to talk about the upcoming release, the beauty behind “I Just Don’t Know You Yet,” and why she’s ready to show off her voice like never before.

Dress Agro Studios / Tights Pamela Mann / Shoes Vintage / Jewellery Alexis Bittar

You recently performed a set at All Points East. How was the experience for you?

It was really surreal. That was my first time performing at a festival under my own name. I was so surprised to see how many people came. I did not expect that. So many people knew the songs and stuff. That was really cool.

When I first spoke to you a couple of years ago, performing live was very new for you. You hadn’t yet done many performances at all. Since going out on the road, you have admitted that performing live has been a huge mental block for you. Now that you have a lot of live experience under your belt, how do you feel about doing performances?

I remember, I was so scared. But now, I’ve done more than 50 shows. I still sometimes get a little bit nervous, which I think is normal, but I’ve started to enjoy it a lot, and I think I’m a lot more confident on stage, and I’m able to relax. There was one moment where I was opening for FLO, and everything was going so wrong. My sound wasn’t working. The band had only one day to rehearse, and there was cohesiveness among us. I felt like I was kind of just out there on my own. But something switched in me that made me realise, ‘Wait, these are just people.’ Like, this doesn’t really matter. I was able to be myself and really let go for the first time. I think from then, which was last year, I just let go, and I saw performing from a new perspective. It’s fun. 

Is it one of those situations where you’re really nervous before you step out, but once you’re a few songs in, you feel absolutely fine?

Sometimes! Most of the time, I will have stupid thoughts come into my head that tell me ‘Something’s gonna go wrong!’ and I have to just silence them out. Or I’ll just see somebody yawning in my face or something, and then I’ll be thinking, ‘Oh no!’

Maybe they’ve had a long day!

Yeah, probably. I think being a support artist is a lot harder. You have to really work hard to get the crowd going. I’ve never performed just to my audience, so I’ve never experienced what that feels like.

Full look Vivienne Westwood

Despite no headline shows yet, you’re still very booked and busy. Next year, you are supporting RAYE and Renee Rapp in huge venues across Europe and North America. Does the aspect of performing to crowds that big now just excite you? You had the taste of an arena show last year when you supported RAYE at The O2. Now you’ll be playing there six times!

I’m honestly really excited. I feel like the O2 Arena show felt like my music belonged there. I feel like my music is so anthemic and huge that when I performed it at The O2, it was like, ‘Oh, okay, this is where my music’s meant to be.’ And I felt oddly really comfortable on that stage more than in the theatres. I’m excited to do an arena tour. I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time.

Your new single, “I Just Don’t Know You Yet,” went down a storm at All Points East. It’s quickly become your biggest song to date and has introduced your music to a new audience who are now probably going back and listening to your catalogue. What’s it been like seeing the song grow?

It’s been pretty crazy. I was on tour with BANKS when the song started getting a lot of attention. It was really surreal. I was just seeing millions of likes, millions of views, all happening so fast. And then even seeing in real life when I would go into a random gas station in the middle of America, where people would be like, ‘Oh my gosh, you’re Absolutely!’ Like, that is so crazy and random. It happened so quickly. Within a week of teasing it, everybody demanded that I release the song. I was kind of in a tough situation with my team, trying to get everything done. But yeah, it was surreal and it is still surreal, but exciting. 

What is it about the song that you believe has captured people’s attention?

Well, for me, when I was writing it, it was so pure and honest. And I think it was one of the first times that I had written a song based on a concept that I had, which was my future husband. I had him really heavy on my heart for some reason. That was like the first time where I had that feeling of really wanting to talk about it. The message is just so pure and authentic. I think a lot of people relate to the feeling of wanting that true partner. It’s also just a really big power ballad that’s very emotional. It’s a good song to scream in the car.

Bralette and waistcoat Milla Giulia Badin / Shorts National Theatre / Sleeves Raquel de Carvalho / Shoes National Theatre

You’ve shot a music video for the song. Tell us about it.

It’s gonna be quite surreal. I feel like I’ve said the word surreal so many times. That’s kind of the theme of the interview. [laughs] I don’t know if you saw the “Goodbye Glitter” video, but I wanted the whole album world to live in this black void space where different objects and places exist in it. “I Just Don’t Know You Yet” is also going to live in that world. It’s going to be very cool. 

You mentioned a new album there, which you have talked about in other interviews. Is it done and ready to go?

I have all the songs. There are maybe two songs that I have to tweak and add a couple of things, but it’s pretty much done. I have to decide which couple of songs I’m gonna have to let go of, which is very difficult. It’s a couple of songs too many right now, but I’m very close.

How many songs do you have right now, and what is the number you want to whittle it down to?

I think I have 15 now, and I want to get it down to 13. It costs a lot of money, and I have top dog producers now, so I’ve got to get them paid right. 15 might just be a tiny bit too much.

The debut album, CEREBRUM, offered a lot, visually and lyrically. How is the music sounding?

It’s an evolution of the first album. It’s not crazy different, but I feel like I was a lot more intentional when it comes to the lyrics and the songwriting. Everything I said, I said it for a reason. I think the first album, I was really just having fun, and whatever came, I would just let that be. I think with this one, I spent a lot more time going back into songs and revisiting them many times. I mean, I’ve been working on this album for two years and replacing a lot of songs and bringing some back. But sonically, it’s cinematic, theatrical, fantastical pop. Some of them are quite intricate, and I think a lot of the songs take you on a journey. They’ll start somewhere, and then they’ll end in a totally different place. It’s very immersive. I think it’s going to be one that you have to put your headphones on and shut your eyes and just listen. 

Dress Agro Studios / Tights Pamela Mann / Shoes Vintage / Jewellery Alexis Bittar

When do you hope to release it?

I think it will be early next year. Another song is gonna come out soon, hopefully. 

Is the aim to keep pushing “I Just Don’t Know You Yet”? It has the potential to be huge.

Definitely. I think this song has really been connecting with people, so we’re gonna keep trying to push this one, but also just releasing other songs, which can also help bring people back to that.

Now that your career is reaching new heights, have your goals shifted?

I think even at the end of this album stage, like finishing this album, I’m now in a different space, which is that I want to not cover my voice so much. I feel like a lot of the music I’ve made previously has a lot of vocal effects. I’m not gonna get rid of that because that’s part of my sound, but I wanna make sure that my voice is cutting through because I think my voice is what really connects with people and not just the busyness and the production. I think the next phase after this second album is gonna be a lot more upfront vocals that are less busy with great songwriting. 

Has the heavy production on your vocals been intentional or was it a confidence thing?

I mean, maybe subconsciously it was a confidence thing without even knowing, but I definitely just loved sitting at the computer and playing with vocal production and making my voice sound interesting and unique. I think maybe my voice gets lost in it, especially in the first album. There’s not much of my raw vocal. 

Maybe that’s why the latest single is doing so well, because it is very different from the debut album.

Yeah, true. I think that was my eye opener, that people are really connecting to my voice, not just how experimental I can be on the production side.

We know you as a musician, but are there other roles you would like to venture into or try out? Fashion? Acting?

Well, fashion. I have been designing all of my tour looks, which has been, I guess, a dream of mine since before I started doing music. I thought I wanted to be a fashion designer, and now I get to do that alongside my music, which is so fun and cool. I’m gonna just keep building out that collection and seeing what it could become. I’m having so much fun. 

Full look Vivienne Westwood / Shoes Marc Jacobs

Will we see you at London Fashion Week?

Yes, I’m doing a couple of things with my sisters.

Since both of your sisters are in the music world too, it must be nice to be able to do things together and not feel like anyone is being overshadowed.

We just build each other up, and we’re so strong when we come together. I love my sisters. We’re very good at not being competitive and just helping each other out and just being lovely. 

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