With nostalgic, sentimental, soulful songwriting and a unique character to match, Mabes’ songwriting style is undoubtedly the product of a UK upbringing fuelled by a lifelong obsession with Nashville folklore. First picking up the guitar at the age of 15, she began performing open mic nights around her hometown of Billericay, balancing music with her 9-5 career that she held until just a few years ago. Her debut album ‘Wait & See’ racked up over 38 Million Streams in its first year and since picked up critical acclaim with American Songwriter, CLASH, Notion, Wonderland,, The Independent, Spindle and Earmilk. Across the airwaves she’s also seen support from BBC Radio 1, 6Music and BBC Radio 2.
3rd October 2025
Your track of the day
Baby Queen - Dover Beach
Catchy, anthemic, and euphoric
What time of day do you feel most inspired?
The later the better… all the good ideas come when its dark
What do you daily to get into your creative mindset?
I love to wake up with the radio… a bit of ‘Smooth’ or ‘Gold’ starts the day off right.
Tell us a bit about your self-care routine
I walk my dog every day to get outside and stay connected to nature.
Where's your favourite space to experience music?
It totally depends for what purpose I’m listening to the music. It’s totally freeing letting loose listening to a bop when you’re solo in the car, but also an amazing connection between a group of strangers in an audience at a live gig.
Your recent single ‘Pocket Full of Dreams’ came out a few weeks ago, what would a day of living your dreams look like?
I would wake up next to the love of my life, cook breakfast, take the dog for a walk, and write a song on the balcony before heading off to a venue to sound check for a big sell out show!
Tell us a bit about the what this song means to you and a bit about its creation
I wrote this song about the stresses and struggles of chasing your dreams, the knockbacks and rejection that makes you feel like quitting, and the glimmers of hope that keep you going. Obviously my personal experience is navigating the music industry, but I hope it resonates with anyone going all-out for their dream. I wrote this one in my bedroom and finished it with my go-to producer Matt Newman. I am super proud of this one, and I feel like it’s even more fitting to my current situation than when I first wrote it!
This single, alongside ‘No Regrets’, are your first releases in 4 years. How has this time away impacted your music?
I just needed to take a break and re-discover my reason why I am releasing music. Being signed to a label was an amazing experience but it also came with a lot of pressure and I was chasing a ‘radio hit’ and not writing for me. I wanted to step back and find the answer to ‘why’ I want to release music and be an artist. The answer I found; I was put on this earth to write songs, and songs are meant to be heard and shared, you never know how a song might affect someone.
These tracks while also maintaining your musical roots, are also noticeably more bolder in sound - ready for the stage. Where is somewhere you’d love to perform these live?
Yes! These tracks are ready for a live band and a roaring crowd. I hope to be playing them at lots of festivals next year. I’d love to secure Great Escape, as I was due to play there summer of 2020, so would be some closure for me haha!
You're going to a day festival, who are 5 artists you want on the line up?
Wolf Alice, Foals, Fontaines DC, John Mayer, Charli XCX
You have 24 hours to master a musical skill, what is it?
To riff like John Mayer!!!
You have 24 hours, which musician/industry person would you spend it with and why?
I’d want to smoke a cigarette with Kacey Musgraves and maybe write a song on her porch.
If you could time travel for the day, what era of music would you most like to visit?
The 80s! OMG the parties! The clubs! The audacious fashion! Unreal scenes!
What advice do you have for yourself, for tomorrow?
Another day always comes after this one, until it doesn’t. Make it count but don’t waste it worrying.
What should we keep an eye out for next?
EP to soon be completed, you can expect that early doors 2026! Then on to the next chapter, which is sounding EPIC!