On her brand new sophomore album, Holly Humberstone takes her bedroom pop soundscape out into the “Cruel World.”
Since the start of the decade, Humberstone has been on a slow but steady rise in the music industry. Her first and second EPs, “Falling Asleep at the Wheel” and “The Walls Are Way Too Thin,” were a lot more stripped back, with the latter earning her first entry on the UK Albums Chart.
Buzz only kept getting bigger with the release of her debut album, “Paint My Bedroom Black,” in 2023. With the word spreading and collaborations with artists such as Del Water Gap and d4vd, this album saw her reach her highest UK Albums Chart peak at No. 5.
While this album still featured the slower, melancholic indie pop-rock she had come to be known for, a shift in sound was starting. Songs such as “Into Your Room” and non-album singles like “Sleep Tight” saw Humberstone delving further into a subtle synth-pop style.
There was no doubt that this sound was connecting with listeners; even global pop star Taylor Swift was taking notice. In 2024, Humberstone found herself opening for Swift alongside Paramore at the Aug. 16 show at Wembley Stadium.
Now boasting just under 5 million monthly listeners on Spotify and support from a range of prominent producers, she returns with her sophomore album, “Cruel World.”
Humberstone and her collaborators bring a new, ethereal atmosphere of synths and strings to this project. The sound is an expansion of what she explored on “Paint My Bedroom Black.”
Lead single “Die Happy” is a strong representation of the transition between these two albums. The track is a gothic love song, showing her embracing a reckless relationship she is willing to die for. The rich instrumental captures the dark yet beautiful feel of a doomed romance.
Themes of love and loss are not new territory for Humberstone, but she expands these ideas into a broader, more universal space. The title track, “Cruel World,” shows her lamenting the distance in a long-distance relationship, wishing to be wherever her partner is.
Fans of melancholic pop will find plenty to enjoy here. On “White Noise,” she explores trying to forget a past lover during a night out, only to hear his name everywhere she goes. Despite her pleas for the DJ to “play a sad song,” the track carries a groovy, upbeat energy.
“Drunk Dialing” serves as the natural next chapter in that narrative. In a desperate attempt for affection, she calls a former partner while drunk. The lively yet melancholic instrumental underscores that push and pull between heartbreak and escapism.
Humberstone also takes a moment to reveal a more personal side on the closing track, “Beauty Pageant.” The song compares societal expectations placed on women to the relentless scrutiny of a beauty pageant. Tracks like this show her engaging with broader issues, reflecting the harsh realities of the “Cruel World” she inhabits.
“Cruel World” is available on all major streaming platforms.
