Multi-talented musician Naomi Scott has returned with more musical and emotional depth than ever. She talks sound, life lessons, and new track “Cut Me Loose”.
Flourishing in one creative median is impressive enough, but if you’re London polymath Naomi Scott, a singular outlet is simply not enough. From early successes as a musician with two standout EPs, Scott stepped away from the mic and in front of the screen, recognised and revered for her performances in Hollywood joints such as Aladdin and Smile 2. Now, she’s back in the booth, having grown her ambition, vision and personage. She sounds better than ever for it.
Following the sultry comeback cut “Rhythm” — shared in early July — a second comeback cut has been unveiled in the shape of “Cut Me Loose”. It’s an understated, dazzling piece of soul pop, engrossingly intimate in its lyrical threads of romantic self-destruction and lack of emotional clarity. Produced by Lido with additional production by Dev Hynes and Jack Dines, the rich and thought-provoking song illustrates the added layers of maturity and nuance Scott bolsters in this new artistic epoch.
Fresh from a debut blowout at Lollapolooza Chicago and with more music to come this year, Wonderland connect with the multi-faceted creative to discuss her return and reflect on the recent formative period of her life.
Listen to “Cut Me Loose”…
Read the interview…
Why did now feel like the right term to return to music? How does it feel to be back releasing?
Honestly, I’m just so excited and grateful. I’ve been childlike in this process, I’ve had the space to be able to make music with people I love and take time to synthesise what I want to do musically. I believe every song I’ve written, released or unreleased, every producer I’ve reached out to, every collaboration in the last 10/15 years all plays a part in where I am now, but its was really 2021/2022 that I started to see the vision for this particular project. It’s the a thing of “I just wanted to wait until it felt right, until I felt incredibly confident about what I was doing”. That meant going back to basics, back to what I listened to growing up and then finding a fresh sonic soundscape to present you with feelings of nostalgia. I’m just so in love with the world that Lido (producer) and I have so meticulously created.
What has your tenure in the film world taught you about yourself and your artistry?
Oooo that’s a good question. I think to just keep trusting myself. Understanding the creative process both when it’s just me on my own but also in collaboration helps because I think I’m able to know when to dive into a creative hole and keep that space pure and when to zoom out and look at the big picture. I think also sometimes as woman its hard for us to really take time to learn what we need for our own process and then verbalise that, I still could be way better at that, but experience on a film set can also help teach you to advocate for yourself.
How is your new music a progression from your previous releases?
Another good question. I actually think it’s the more distilled, honed version of a lot of the things I was experimenting with back in the day. I specifically went back to the piano to write because I wanted to start from the source. Also a key thing to mention is my collaboration with Lido. I really wanted to create a world, that felt both timeless and fun and Lido’s production has created a sound that has all the nuances of the soundscape I had in my head and so much more. He’s incredible.
Congratulations on “Cut Me Loose”! Talk us through the track’s making and meaning?
I write longlines to all of my songs. The longline for “Cut Me Loose” is: “I’d break up with me if I were you”. It’s about self-sabotage and how we often push something or someone to the brink because we’re curious to see what’s on the other side of it.
I wrote the first version of this song in 2021 and reworked it a year or so later with Lido. It had no post-chorus part for a long time, we couldn’t figure out what it needed and so I asked my dear friend Dev Hynes to write a post melody and he did and of course it’s fucking brilliant.
What’s next?
I just directed a video for my next track that’s coming soon… can’t wait to share!
