Getty ImagesBrutally honest lyrics about real life helped make Skye Newman one of 2025’s biggest new stars.
But they also sparked arguments with the people her songs are about.
The London-born singer says an ex-boyfriend was among those to react particularly badly to being referenced in her work.
“It caused a whole explosion,” she told BBC Radio 1 hosts Rickie Haywood-Williams, Melvin Odoom and Charlie Hedges.
“It was a song I wrote about us being quite explosive and toxic and he wasn’t very happy.
“I do feel bad about it sometimes,” she said after a performance for Radio 1’s Live Lounge Month.
‘A way with words’
Skye sang Family Matters, her biggest hit to date, before covering Olivia Dean’s The Hardest Part.
The 22-year-old’s own lyrics have described witnessing drug abuse and going through grief in her childhood home.
On writing about personal experiences, Skye said it’s her way of “bearing her soul”.
“I’ve always had a way with words,” she added.
“Being able to express how I felt on paper was so much easier than saying it to someone.
“Coming from a home of such chaos and drama, I could sing and get away from that.”
Getty ImagesSkye’s growing reputation led to an Instagram notification that was so important, her sister woke her to see it.
Through bleary eyes, she read Ed Sheeran’s invitation to perform with him on tour.
“I remember waking up and my sister said, ‘you’ve got a message from someone’,” Skye recalls.
“I was thinking, ‘you just got me out of bed for what?’, but it was just insane.
“It was a very, very, very surreal moment.”
Performing at Ed’s homecoming gig in Ipswich in July helped prepare Skye for supporting Lewis Capaldi on his recent UK and Ireland tour.
“I feel like I’ve been picked up by the most amazing men in this industry,” she said.
“Lewis is the sweetest man I think I’ve ever met in my life.”
Debut release SE9 Part 1
Skye spoke about her rise to fame as she prepares to release what she’s calling her debut “project” SE9 Part 1 on October 24.
“I feel very lucky,” she said.
“Throughout all of this, I’ve always had people supporting me. Friends, family, I’ve always had someone in my corner.
“I have a lot of strong women around me which I think makes a difference.
“Because in this industry, you have to stand on your ten toes.”
