Cornwall singer-songwriter Billie Flynn has already been signed to Never Fade Records, the label established by Gabrielle Aplin, even before she had a single out – such is the power of the performances she’s given leading up to this point. Today she releases her debut offering, “Hey Stranger”, and we’re all invited to enjoy this emerging talent. On the song, she says:
“This song came to me in a dream, I dreamt the melody and woke up frantically trying to find my phone to record a voice note, I still have it… It’s about seeing someone again that isn’t in your life anymore and hoping that they’re proud of who you are now.”
“Hey Stranger” is similar in tone, theme and title to Barbara Lewis’ “Hello Stranger” (or maybe even closer to Julia Holter’s classic cover of it), but those thoughts are quickly swept aside as Billie Flynn’s gently powerful voice takes hold of the song – and your breath in the process. At its core, “Hey Stranger” is a classic singer-songwriter acoustic track, but subtle adornments of piano and violin elevate it to a spectral beauty that enfolds you in its silken sweep. It’s all in service of Flynn’s pristine vocal, as she quietly quizzes “would you recognise me now I’ve grown / to a person you don’t even know?” Her voice has an angelic flutter combined with a mortal vulnerability, making it feel like she’s truly opening herself up, and in the process turns this dream into a deeply resonant and universal experience.
Listen to “Hey Stranger” below or on your preferred platform.
“Hey Stranger” is out on Never Fade Records. You can find Billie Flynn on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
