Singer’s upbringing in city inspired her forthcoming album

Brit Award-nominated star reflects on roots

Pop star Mimi Webb has credited her upbringing in the Kent “countryside” with inspiring her new album.

The Canterbury-born singer, who is up for her first Brit award this Saturday, revealed the source of her creativity in an exclusive interview with the Gazette’s sister radio station, kmfm.

Mimi, 22, joined Garry and Chelsea on kmfm breakfast on Thursday morning to talk about her new single Red Flags from her upcoming album Amelia. The former Kent College schoolgirl talked about her nomination for best new artist at the Brits and let listeners in on the ups and downs of her love life. She said: “Me and my family would always sit back at home in Kent and be watching the Brits every year so just to be able to go this year, attending as a nominee, is just mind-blowing. “I’m going to be excited for everyone and just take it in and whatever happens, keep smiling.”

On the romantic experiences behind her single Red Flags, the artist said: “My songs are probably based on all my exes. “I’ve had two proper boyfriends. I’d say the first one was a sweet guy but that was more the dumb love era of my life. My latest ex is more like arghhh.” The star, who rose to fame on Tiktok during the pandemic, says other than her Brit nomination the highlight of her career so far has been performing at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Last summer, she returned to her old school – where a piano teacher discovered her musical talents – as a special guest of headmaster Mark Turnbull.

Her new album begins with Mimi revisiting her Kentish upbringing.

Mimi said: “The album is called Amelia because it’s my real name so to be able to put that name and my stage name together on a record is just so exciting.

“It really just tells the story of the countryside girl from Kent, Amelia, and then, Mimi, who travels around the world and does all these crazy things that I’ve dreamt of doing my whole

life.

“It’s the whole journey of that growth and growing up. It’s got something for everyone, it’s got some slower sadder songs and some really upbeat stuff.” Mimi has lived in Gravesend and Medway, as well as Canterbury. She is best known for EP Seven Shades of Heartbreak and singles Good Without and Before I Go.

Her single Red Flags is out now and her album will be arriving onmarch3.

Mimi Webb, who grew up in Canterbury, has spoken about how her Kentish upbringing has influenced her music