Few upcoming artists have had the year that Holly Humberstone has – with 2022 only just beginning with her winning the title of rising star at the Brit Awards. Ahead of her UK tour, she ends the year on a reflective note with brand new stripped-back ballad ‘Can You Afford to Lose Me?’.
Although just 22, Holly has built her lyrical career on age-old reflections on love and loss – and ‘Can You Afford to Lose Me?’ is no different. The track depicts the final moments of desperation when it becomes obvious a relationship has run its course; an ode to the love she’s depicted in previous records.
The piano heartbeat running through the body of what she self-describes as ‘‘one of her favourite songs she’s ever written’’ allows the vocals to be the focal point of this release. Singing “Gave you the closest thing you ever had to love, so sober up”, her vocal control is the most poignant feature of this track – Holly requires no blaring instrumental tune to keep listeners’ attention.
The track is featured within a new record consisting of a compilation of her first two EPs.
“The past couple of years have been a whirlwind, and I rarely get the chance to reflect on everything that’s happened,” she said. This is no exaggeration – Holly has gone from performing on her local radio show to beating beloved artists Central Cee, FKA Twigs and PinkPanthress for Best Mixtape at the NME Awards in March this year.
Alongside this release is her tour, ending with Nottingham’s Rock City. It will be her biggest-ever UK tour, months after touring in support of Olivia Rodrigo and Girl in Red.
Tickets are available from https://www.hollyhumberstone.com/live/.
Words by Chloe Menesse
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