5 Minutes With… Bess Atwell 

Bess Atwell: “I find I’m more creative in the mornings.”

The Brighton-based singer-songwriter on finding inspiration in Taylor Swift and nu-folk, writing honest lyrics, and the need for “that song”

English singer-songwriter Bess Atwell has long been celebrated for her deeply personal and introspective lyrics, and her third album, Light Sleeper, is no exception. Released in May, it delves into themes of mental health, the emotional journey of tapering off antidepressants, and the complex process of self-discovery. It was recorded at the renowned Long Pond Studios in New York’s Hudson Valley and produced by Aaron Dessner of The National.

Light Sleeper follows the success of Bess’ 2021 LP, Already, Always, and further develops the warm and vibrant sound she has been cultivating over the years, solidifying her status as one of the UK’s most promising artists. The album includes already-released tracks like Sylvester and The Weeping, along with the lead single Release Myself which embodies Atwell’s renewed sense of purpose, expressing the importance of acknowledging struggles without succumbing to victimhood.

Bess’s songwriting has always drawn heavily from her own life experiences. Three years ago, she gave us a glimpse into her creative world when she shared her Songwriting Survival Kit while discussing the inspiration behind Already, Always, which explored the intricacies of love and loss in relationships.

Recently, we had the opportunity to catch up with Bess and discuss how her influences and songwriting process have evolved over the years…

Discover Bess Atwell’s Songwriting Survival Kit

Can you share some of the early musical influences that shaped your approach to songwriting?

“In my early teen years, I learnt almost every Taylor Swift song on the guitar, which I think gave me a better understanding of the structure of a good pop song. But when I really became influenced by music, in a way that shaped me as my own artist, was when I saw Johnny Flynn play in Brighton. I’d never been exposed to ‘folk’ music before and his sound and performance just mesmerised me. It led me onto that nu-folk scene that emerged in London in the 2010s, then onto bands that would change my world, like Fleet Foxes and Beach House. I guess they made me want to write more transportive, evocative, nostalgic-sounding stuff.”

What does your typical songwriting process look like? 

“I find I’m more creative in the mornings – that seems to be when my best songs are written. I think it’s because I’m in more of a flow-state, unburdened by the day. My process is pretty simple, 9/10 times it’s just sitting down with a guitar and playing basic chords while letting the melody and words flow. I’ll then go in and take a closer look at the lyrics once the general idea is there. Occasionally I’ll write on Logic, using MIDI synths and beats.”

Bess Atwell: “I’d love to write some more angry, energetic songs.” Photo: Davey Pentecost

How do you feel your songwriting has evolved over the years?

“I’ve learnt to be more honest, I think. One of my songs Time Comes In Roses did much better than expected and I think it’s because it’s so open and honest and people connected with that. I’ve let go of feeling tied to a pop structure too… then again, that could be my laziness when it comes to writing middle eights.”

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your songwriting journey?

“I have very small writing windows which can be annoying. Ten months out of the year I’m not a songwriter, then suddenly I’ll write a record in a couple of months. Because of this, and the personal nature of my writing, I don’t really write for/with other artists which has meant I’ve turned down working with artists I love in the past.”

What role do lyrics play in your songwriting process, and how do you approach writing them?

“Lyrics are an important part of what I do. Most of the time they come out of nowhere and surprise me as I’m trying to figure out a melody. Sometimes they’re taken from my Notes app where I keep ideas that come to me when I’m out.”

How do you decide on the themes or stories you want to tell through your songs?

“I find it difficult to talk about my writing process because it’s so intuitive and almost unconscious. I don’t really plan my songwriting or the stories I want to tell because it’s almost always autobiographical. I write about what’s going on in my head. I guess I have to be ready to tell certain stories, but that’s not usually a conversation I have with myself, it just kind of happens.”

Bess Atwell: “Stop trying to sound like your favourite artist…the world doesn’t need a duplicate, it needs your individual voice.” Photo: David Pentecost

Looking ahead, what are some of your aspirations and goals specifically for your songwriting? Are there any particular projects or themes you’re excited to explore?

“I’ve been thinking a lot recently about how true it is that every artist has ‘that song’ that makes people take notice of them. Not a one-hit-wonder, just a song that opens doors for them by offering something that other artists aren’t. I never normally consider songwriting in a tactical way, but recently I’ve been wondering if I need that song. Trying to force yourself to write your ‘hit’ really doesn’t work though, especially for an artist like me, so I’m having to parent myself to leave that notion at the door when I sit down to write. So I guess that’s an anti-aspiration, if you will.

“I’d love to write some more angry, energetic songs. I really don’t know how to do that… I’m the kind of person who cries when I get angry and my songs definitely give off that energy right now.”

Do you have a dream co-write? 

“Even though I generally don’t co-write, of course, there are some artists I’d jump at the chance to write with. Probably Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes, maybe someone like Blondshell to help get me out of my shell (pardon the pun), and I’d love a lyric lesson from Matt Berninger [The National].”

If you could give an aspiring songwriter one piece of advice, what would it be? 

“Stop trying to sound like your favourite artist. Just trust that their influence will come out in some special way but that the world doesn’t need a duplicate, it needs your individual voice.”

Light Sleeper by Bess Atwell is out now on Real Kind Records. You can find current tour dates at bessatwell.com

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