We first caught up with philomenah in 2022, following the release of her debut EP white dove. Now, the Shetland-raised singer-songwriter returns with ‘sovereign’, the first single from her forthcoming debut album and an introduction to a darker side of her sound.
Moving between dreamy alt-pop and trip-hop, ‘sovereign’ draws on the mood and restraint of Massive Attack and Sade. It builds on the alternative R&B and atmospheric pop of her earlier releases, with a renewed focus on independence and female autonomy.
The song began as a keys sketch during a period of reflection on past relationships and the expectations attached to romance. At its centre is a simple idea: being alone does not mean being incomplete. Rather than waiting to be chosen, philomenah turns towards self-worth and the freedom to decide what her own life should look like.
“I wrote this song to reassure myself and other women that it’s okay to have a path that doesn’t look like what we’re told to expect, that solitude can be peaceful and you don’t need to rely on being ‘chosen’ to feel worthy,” she explains.
That thread connects ‘sovereign’ to the emotional honesty of white dove, while shifting the focus towards self-possession. Where her debut explored toxic love and heartbreak, this new single makes room for a different possibility: choosing yourself.
Released on 4 September, ‘sovereign’ is out now.
