Holly Humberstone – Paint My Bedroom Black

The influences of Damien Rice and Phoebe Bridgers are evident throughout Holly Humberstone's highly anticipated debut album, Paint My Bedroom Black. Following the triumph of her 2021 EP The Walls Are Way Too Thin, the album demonstrates Humberstone’s progress in her talent and career, reflecting on when she was an unknown artist writing songs at her parents' piano, to quickly becoming one of the most exciting alt-pop singers the UK has to offer.

Like her earlier singles, the 23-year-old focuses mainly on relationships, whether that’s past romances or how friends have adapted to her new-found fame, something she discusses on Room Service. For the most part Humberstone's vocals are effortlessly dreamy, with each track telling a story through raw emotion. But it’s also clear she's experimenting with her sound, with many tracks, such as Into Your Room, featuring a slightly excessive amount of heavy synths and autotune on her vocals.

Although all of the tracks on the record blend seamlessly together, many sadly sound similar to the last, with only a few stand-outs such as Superbloodmoon, a collaboration with American singer-songwriter d4vd. Collaborations are new to Humberstone, but having another voice on a song that delves into the feelings of homesickness is a strong and successful addition here.

Listen to: Paint My Bedroom Black, Antichrist, Superbloodmoon