'Harry Styles told me I was smashing it'

MUSIC Viral popstar Mimi Webb tells Elizabeth Aubrey about her debut album, mental health issues and advice from Adele

- Elizabeth Aubrey

SINGER-SONGWRITER Mimi Webb has been described as a “viral pop powerhouse”. At just 22, her music has racked up over 250 million streams, she is one of the most popular young British artists on TikTok with 1.3 million followers and, ahead of the release of her debut album next week, she was a nominee at the Brit Awards. She’s also knackered, letting out a huge yawn shortly after we start chatting. “Oh god, I’m so sorry! It just came out, I’ve no idea where that came from!”

Webb can be forgiven for being tired. Two days earlier, she was at the Brits for the first time after being nominated for Best New Artist. The day after, she flew out to Cologne for a whirlwind promotional tour of her upcoming album, Amelia, and now she’s in a hotel in Berlin for more press before she travels further across Germany. She’s also getting ready for a headline tour this spring.

To speak to, she is reminiscent of one of her heroes, Adele; down-to-earth, open and very funny. “I met Adele once,” Webb smiles. “It was the best day of my life, hands down.” The meeting was backstage at a Billie Eilish concert and Adele told her to “stay strong and true to herself”, something that stuck with Webb at a time when she was still struggling to find her identity as a new artist. “I have always admired how genuine Adele is, so it meant the world hearing her say that to me.”