Marking Lucy Robb’s debut single, ‘ramen’ gives us a clear glimpse of what we can expect from the talented songstress. Packed with an elegant melancholic flair, the track also carries a certain hypnotic charge, a laidback, nostalgic allure that draws listeners in from the first notes. In that sense, ‘ramen’ can be seen as a heartwarming aural embrace, a nuanced insight into Robb’s introspective universe and the way she interacts with the world around her.
Such evocative, meaningful songwriting will be replicated on Lucy’s upcoming EP, a record that delves deeper into mental health themes and the struggles of coping with an increasingly complex reality. We appreciate Robb’s lyrical honesty; she’s not hiding behind a fictional facade, instead welcoming listeners into observant storytelling and authentic memories. We suspect people will relate to that, especially since wonderful, luscious vocals deliver the message.
Intrigued by ‘ramen’, we caught up with Lucy Robb to learn more about her artistry and future goals… interview below!
Hey Lucy, thanks for chatting with us! Your debut single ‘ramen’ is out today; how does it feel to finally release music? I find that it takes a fair bit of courage to share one’s art with the wider world, and perhaps a certain vulnerability too…
Finally! I’m actually really excited and calm! It’s taken so long for me to feel ‘ready’ to start releasing my music. I’m such a perfectionist, and I’ve been putting off my first release for so long, trying to get everything right. Eventually, I had a realisation a few weeks ago, when I told myself: “girl, this is literally your first song, one of hopefully hundreds and and the sooner you get it out the sooner you can start doing everything you’ve dreamed of”… I was also so terrified of how the song might be perceived, but my perspective on that has shifted, and I am proud of how meaningful the single is to me. It was written from a real experience and a feeling I’ve felt many times, and if it resonates with even one person and makes them feel seen, then that makes the release worth it.
Before we dive into the specifics surrounding the new single, I’d love to know who Lucy Robb is and where she’s coming from… What motivated you to pursue music in the first place? Is there anything or anyone that has influenced you in doing so?
To be totally honest, I think in my deepest heart of hearts I’ve wanted to make music for my whole life, but I never really felt good enough or felt like that was a truly viable option for me. I’ve played piano since I was four and written songs since I was really, really young; I have notebooks and notebooks full of love songs I wrote when I was about 12. I have loads in my Notes app too from around 2014, and they’re hilarious.
I think I was just waiting for someone to tell me it was possible, waiting to be scouted from the two covers I posted in 2020. And then I went to Glastonbury in 2023 and was like, “Omg, this is what I need to do.” It all came to the surface, and then I wrote ‘Naked’ straight after, which is the next song I’m bringing out. You can see what I mean now when I say it’s taken a while to get that first release out… but in short, I realised that I can do what I want to do with my life if I actually take the action to make it happen. I think as well, I’ve always known I wanted to talk about things that maybe not everyone feels able to (mental health issues, insecurities), and when I realised I could do that while doing something I love and have always loved, I was like, “Okay, this is the path.”
This is also wild, but I was at a sushi restaurant with my brother and sister in New York in December 2024, and this girl sitting next to us said, “Hey, are you guys from London?” and we got chatting… it was Izzy Escobar, who I didn’t know at the time but of course now know well. It sounds like a made-up story, but it really isn’t; just such a weird synchronicity from the universe, I think. Back then, I was still just dabbling in the idea of becoming a musician, but since then she’s become an amazing mentor and friend to me. She’s helped and inspired me so much. I’ve been to her London shows, and she’s just amazing. She’s such a lovely, kind human; she’s so, so driven, and even at the first show I saw her at, her performance equalled that of a sold-out stadium artist. She’s definitely guided me a lot.
I appreciate how ‘ramen’ is built on relatable and playful storytelling, only to hide a more meaningful core. To be fair, the song’s evocative character perfectly fits this ethos, helping the underlying social anxiety and introspective theme resonate with every attentive listener out there. Would you say that ‘ramen’ is a personal offering? Do you relate to it?
Yes, 100%! I literally wrote it after a night at the pub. I’m not particularly socially anxious as a person (in fact, I love talking to random people and talking in general). My issue is more that I can get really in my head and feel like I’m annoying everyone, or that I have nothing good to offer. Maybe that is social anxiety, haha.
That night I’d just felt so out of place, sitting between two groups of people having their own conversations and questioning everything I said. All I could think about was going home to make packet ramen by myself (Nissin Demae spicy, to be specific). So yes, I relate to it deeply. It means a lot of things: it’s about feeling self-conscious and battling with horrible intrusive thoughts, but it’s also about knowing when to set boundaries with yourself about what makes you feel good. And it’s about the relationships we have with ourselves… the good ones, I mean. I feel grateful and happy that I crave being alone; that in itself is a blessing.
And ramen to me is a lonesome meal. In Japan, one often eats ramen alone, even in their own section! So the song ended up being a metaphor for that specific feeling, even though it really was a ramen that I was going home to make, too. I make that about four times a week.
‘ramen’ was produced with Oli Deakin. Are you proud of how the track turned out?
Yes, I really, really am. With lots of my songs, I have clear musical references and a clear plan, but with ‘ramen’ I had nothing, just that I wanted it to feel sad and wistful while also being playful and tongue-in-cheek. I like feeling like I’m giving the audience a little wink, like, ‘Don’t worry guys, I know we’re talking about sad stuff but I’m still gonna make it feel like a big joke about how much I love noodle soup.’ I struggle to be completely serious and sincere all the time; everything has to come with an element of self-deprecation or humour.
Anyway, Oli’s amazing because he just throws everything at you, and he’s so fun to work with. We just try lots of things and see what works; it’s not regimented at all. He’s like, “Here, try the Omnichord,” or “Why don’t we throw in this tambourine?” and then he’s just playing his bass and guitar, making magic without even thinking.
The song was pretty much ready, and then I suddenly got inspired by Sienna Spiro and decided I needed live strings. I’m so, so glad we did, because Méabh, who we worked with to arrange and record it, did such an insane job. She’s so talented, and the strings, I think, really complete the lonesome element that I wanted to come through in the record.
You shot a video for the single in Osaka, Japan. Did you take the trip for the sole reason of shooting the visuals?
No, I didn’t! I’ve wanted to go to Japan for years and finally got the chance to go back in March; it was honestly magical, and I can’t wait to go back soon. Hopefully, there are some Japanese fans of ‘ramen’ and then I’ll have an excuse to do it… But anyway, I’d planned the trip pretty last minute, after the release was already in motion, so perhaps subconsciously I sort of wanted that to happen.
I’d gone on the trip knowing I needed to film something there. How often do you get the chance to be in Japan at the same time as releasing a song about one of its most renowned foods? I’d been putting it off, and then one day I was like, “Right, today is the day.”
We were in an Izakaya in this local area called Tenma, and I’d really had way too many beers… maybe eight! I realised it was a great location for a music video. So, I drunkenly asked the bar staff with Google Translate if I could come back the next day and film. I think they were surprised when I actually turned up, but I’m really proud of what we achieved in an hour! It was with these two videographers I’d found on Fiverr, and they were amazing. The three of us were just running around this post-work drinks area with my semi-formulated vision, trying to capture something good enough to use. I’m pleased I did it, though. That’s what mattered most to me: that I pushed through the embarrassment of doing something like that in public.
Take us behind the creative process of a typical Lucy Robb songwriting session… Do you start from a melody or from a lyrical theme? Would you say that your lyrical flair is reflective and cathartic?
I wish I could say I have some elaborate creative process, but almost every single song I’ve ever written starts with a line of melody and lyrics hitting me at once, usually sparked by a feeling or experience. It tends to happen when I’m walking somewhere; I’ll voice-record the line, which often flows into a verse or a chorus, and then I sit at my piano whenever I get home or have the chance to try and work it out. I hate to admit this, but I’ve recorded multiple songs while on a Lime bike.
With ‘ramen,’ I got home, sat at my piano immediately, and played out: “Is it weird I’m feeling lonesome at a table full of people?” I think I pretty much wrote the whole song there and then… at least the first verse and chorus.
I’m trying to practice writing about things that aren’t specifically about me. I don’t know why, maybe just to better myself as a songwriter. All my music, as it stands, is very much about me and my feelings.
The reader might not know this, but there’s a lot more to come from Lucy Robb, including an EP. Are the upcoming tracks in a similar vein to ‘ramen’?
Yes, I’d say they are, in the sense that they’re quite diary-entry-esque and introspective. I used to think it was a problem that I didn’t really write about love, but I’m seeing this rise now, particularly in all my favourite female artists like Olivia Rodrigo, CMAT, and Raye, of talking more about how we feel in relation to things. I love that, and I’m excited to bring something to that space.
I’ve always found it quite easy to talk about my ‘stuff.’ I’m pretty open, maybe too much so, about my issues and feelings, and my number one goal with my art is to make people feel seen, heard, and less alone. Those are all things I craved when I was younger, and now too.
This EP is all about facing the things I don’t like as much about myself, or am scared to admit, but it’s also about healing and growth. It’s the good, the bad, and the ugly: beauty standards, comparison, toxic vices, the works. Though it ends on a happy note, I think…
How has your experience in the music industry been so far? It must be hard to navigate as a debuting artist. Yet, I can see you’ve got clear ideas about the kind of creative you want to be… I am sure folks will relate to that!
Honestly, I’m so new to the industry that I can’t comment much on it yet, but my experience so far has been really positive. I’ve met so many amazing people, and everyone is so eager and keen to help and give advice, which I’m so grateful for. I literally DM’ed Oli because I loved his work and CMAT so much; I ended up going to one of his shows, and then a few months later we were in New York recording!
I think the main thing I’ve learned is that you have to make your own luck, work hard, and go out and get it. I’m a freelancer anyway, so I’ve had to get used to riding the wave, facing rejection, and picking myself back up to carry on. Of course, it’s hard to start something and be at the very beginning. It can feel embarrassing and cringey, and you want to be at the point you want to be at straight away, but that’s not how things work. As Olivia Dean said, you do have to climb ‘cringe mountain’, unfortunately, as much as you don’t want to.
I’m learning to enjoy the journey more and be happy with where I am now, because I’ve learned the hard way that hitting certain goals isn’t really what makes a joyful life… there’ll always be a new goal to hit. I put a lot of pressure on myself and am a massive perfectionist, but I’m getting better at being proud of myself for the action I take and the fact that I’m doing this thing for real, rather than just focusing on the big goals. It’s a process, though!