Becky Hill and Self Esteem tackle sexual assault on powerful new single ‘True Colours’
Becky Hill and Self Esteem have teamed up for a powerful new single called ‘True Colours’ – you can listen to it below.
The collaborative track will serve as the opener of Hill’s second studio album ‘Believe Me Now?’, which is due for release this Friday (May 31). Pre-order/pre-save here.
Hill approached Self Esteem (aka Rebecca Lucy Taylor) to work on ‘True Colours’ because the two artists “share similar beliefs and agendas, and are fans of each other’s work”, per a press release.
The personal song’s lyrics explore a first-hand experience of a sexual assault by somebody you trust and your friends not believing you. Hill is said to have channelled this into a single that “simmers with empowerment, defiance and self-care”.
However, ‘True Colours’ is not about “being a victim” and instead is an “uplifting anthem” that Hill hopes will encourage other women to speak out against sexual assault.
“I didn’t want it to be emotional and I didn’t want it to be angry – I’ve had years of therapy to examine that anger and not allow it to inform me, who I am,” she explained in a statement.
“Self Esteem is an artist I’ve been a huge fan of for the longest time so I’m super excited to have her on the track as I think the song resonates for both of us. It’s also the first track on the album so you really get a taste of what is to come. I hope everyone loves it as much as we do.”
Taylor added: “As a huge fan of Becky it was an honour to hop on such an important track. We share a desire to turn these negative experiences into one of teaching and catharsis. ‘True Colours’ is another opportunity for both.”
Listen to ‘True Colours’ above, and watch an official live performance video.
In 2022, Self Esteem delivered a stripped-down cover of ‘Remember’ by Hill and David Guetta while performing for the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge.
It came after Taylor spoke to NME at the BRITs 2022 about her “love” for Hill, even choosing the artist as her dream collaborator. That same night, Hill admitted that she thought Self Esteem was “too cool” for her. The singer added that she’d followed the ‘Prioritise Pleasure’ star’s career for “ages”.
Speaking to NME about ‘Believe Me Now?’ earlier this year, Hill said: “I want to move into a space that says ‘global artist’ and not ‘happy accident’. To come halfway across the world and have people love my music, it makes me feel like none of this has been delusional.”
She continued: “I feel like I’ve finally shed the ‘girl next door’ image as well. I was desperately trying to hang on to that because I didn’t want anyone to think I was too special or up my own ass.
“I didn’t want people asking, ‘Who the fuck is Becky Hill?’ but I’ve become this person that knows exactly who she is. I don’t need to downplay myself or my abilities because I finally believe in myself. You can hear that on this record.”
The tracklist for Becky Hill’s ‘Believe Me Now?’ is:
1. ‘True Colours (With Self Esteem)’
2. ‘Darkest Hour’
3. ‘Outside Of Love’
4. ‘Never Be Alone (With Sonny Fodera)’
5. ‘Multiply’
6. ‘Swim’
7. ‘Man Of My Dreams’
8. ‘Linger’
9. ‘Lonely Again’
10. ‘Side Effects (With Lewis Thompson)’
11. ‘Back Around’
12. ‘Keep Holding On’
13. ‘One Track Mind (With RILEASA)’
14. ‘Disconnect (With Chase & Status)’
15. ‘Right Here’
The post Becky Hill and Self Esteem tackle sexual assault on powerful new single ‘True Colours’ appeared first on NME.
Tom Skinner
NME
