ALBUM OF THE MONTH: HOLLY HUMBERSTONE - CRUEL WORLD

Holly Humberstone returns with Cruel World, out April 10th on indie exclusive pearl white vinyl, and selected as Record Store Day’s Album of the Month. It follows on from her 2023 debut with the same honest, close-up songwriting, but this time things feel a little more settled, and a little more sure of themselves. As Holly puts it, “My eleven-year-old self would be buzzing. I think she’d say, ‘You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.’” 

The album sits in that mid-20s in-between, moving on from people, places and past versions of yourself without everything fully making sense yet. Holly describes it as “shedding old skin,” and that sense of moving on runs through the record. It leans into that in-between stage without overthinking it. As she puts it, “In a world that feels hyperreal and harsh, we wanted to create something fun, detached, nostalgic and magical.” 
 
After the past couple of years out on the road, supporting Taylor Swift at Wembley and joining Sam Fender at St. James’ Park, Cruel World feels like the point where it all clicks into place. Written with her band in mind and built for live shows, it’s the sound of an artist settling in, and starting to get her flowers. 

Holly will also be part of Record Store Day with a limited-edition 7” of Beauty Pageant, featuring the exclusive B-side Annihilation. With the indie exclusive pearl white vinyl landing April 10th and the 7” following a week later on April 18th, it’s a good time to head down to your local indie record shop - not that you needed a reason to.