Holly Humberstone releases expanded edition of Cruel World

Holly Humberstone has released an expanded edition of her second album, Cruel World. The record entered the UK charts at number four earlier this year. The new version includes five additional songs that were largely written after the original album was completed.

Humberstone credits her recent relocation for shaping the new material. Last year, her parents sold her childhood home in Lincolnshire and moved to Wales. That house, located 20 minutes outside of Grantham, was where she wrote her early EPs. She describes the property as freezing and falling apart, but it served as a refuge for her identity. The move forced her to pack 23 years of accumulated belongings, including ballet shoes and poetry books.

The process of discarding these items triggered an identity crisis for the artist. She described the period as uprooting and unsettling. Humberstone turned to songwriting as a way to build a safety bubble. The new tracks reflect a more confident and flirtatious persona. Musical influences for this section of the album include Abba, Madonna, and Robyn.

One of the new singles, Too Cute To Be Lonely, tells the story of a house party. Another track, Silver Sky, was written in the garden of co-writer Maddie Diaz's house in Nashville. Humberstone says she wrote the acoustic ballad while red cardinals sang nearby. She noted that she was in the mood to write something that made her feel good, rather than focusing on her usual themes of mental health.

The original album addressed the pressure of being compared to other artists. Humberstone won the Brits Rising Star award in 2022. She found herself in meetings where her work was benchmarked against larger stars on her label's roster. She says she had to unlearn the competitive mindset drilled into her at her all-girls school in Grantham. That environment taught her that she was only rewarded if she was the best.

Humberstone continues to struggle with stage nerves. She feels pressure to deliver performances to a high standard because the album is her proudest work. However, she has come to view vulnerability as a strength. She believes that audiences cannot connect with a pop star who feels too robotic or polished.

In May of this year, her breakout single Falling Asleep At The Wheel was awarded a silver disc. This recognition came five years after the song was released. Humberstone learned about the accolade during a recent interview. She says the milestone reinforces her belief that there is no final destination in her career.

She plans to keep making music that feels right to her. She no longer sets specific goals for validation. Instead, she focuses on writing music that represents her and helps other people feel understood. The expanded edition of Cruel World is available now.