The road to Arthur Hill's debut EP, 'In The Middle Of Somewhere', hasn't exactly been a conventional one. Pivoting from viral TikToks and content creation to the world of music might not be what some people would have expected from Arthur, but with each release, he has proven there is nowhere more natural for him to be. 'In The Middle Of Somewhere' finds Arthur as he attempts to navigate the many facets of his career and life, but lands at a point where the road ahead looks increasingly clear. The crowds are getting bigger, the songs are getting catchier, and things are getting very, very exciting.

"I've really enjoyed the shift," says Arthur. "It's felt like what I've wanted to happen for a while. I feel it most with the live shows. For a while, we were unsure of what the interest was going to be, and from where I started as more of a content creator person to then trying to do music, I wasn't sure what people would think. Now it's cool; people want to come and see me sing and dance like an idiot. That's really nice, and it feels like it's only getting bigger."

It wasn't always as straightforward as it has become, however. The initial change of pace proved difficult to get to grips with, and the EP often grapples with the highs and lows of finding your feet amongst the other chaos of life. Feeling a little bit lost and unsure, making 'In The Middle Of Somewhere' proved to be an enlightening tool when it came to figuring out exactly where that somewhere might be.

"It stemmed from a place where I felt like I was in the middle of nowhere," Arthur explains. "I was in between being this funny person on TikTok and YouTube and then trying to be more serious and working out how I balance that. I feel like I really have gotten better at it. The things that are going well are things that I want to go well so I'm not in the middle of nowhere anymore. I'm in the middle of somewhere – not quite where I want to be, but we're getting there."

That final destination seems more in reach than ever before, and the time to truly work out what he would like the path there to look like has proven incredibly valuable. 'In The Middle Of Somewhere' has come together over the best part of the last couple of years, culminating in six tracks that tell the story of that particular journey. It has allowed Arthur to land on the sound that felt the most authentic to him, and in doing so create an EP that is reflective and thrilling.

"I've really taken my time with finding what I wanted," Arthur says. "I listen to so much variety of music. I got obsessed with Sabrina Carpenter, like everyone in the world did. Then, I was like, 'Can I be Sabrina Carpenter?' Probably not, but I obviously tried. There are songs that no one will hear where I'm trying to be Sabrina, but the next week, I'll listen to Dean Martin and think, maybe I could bring back swing music? I've really experimented a lot, and I feel quite privileged to be able to change my sound slightly in each song and have the fans still engage with it and see it how they want to see it - that's really nice. With this EP, it feels like they all connect really well, and I'd like to stick to a certain sound as I move forward."

The sound that has grown out of this time is one brimming with fun - he's earnest, always, but more often than not, he's injecting optimism and release into each track's beats. Arthur's particular brand of pop banger is one that combines self-deprecating humour, his uniquely gorgeous vocal tone and compelling melodies to make something feel infinitely good, even when it's actually on the sadder side. From the earworm that is 'Hey Arthur!', and its Grease-inspired origins, to the deftly clever grooves of 'Late for the Reservation' ("That one's made up - I'm always on time," he clarifies), the EP is eclectic but drawn together in those newly cemented idiosyncrasies.

"I like hiding vulnerable lyrics behind a happy beat - it makes it easier to be like, I'm going to pour my heart out, but hopefully people won't notice if you can dance to it too. It's really therapeutic. Unless the song is a conceptual one like 'Late for the Reservation', it's hard to make a good song when it's not something you've actually been through. It's felt really good to get it off my chest and into the music."

The balance of sincerity and euphoric light-heartedness has been a through line from the beginning of Arthur's musical career - earlier tracks like 'Bride and the Gloom' paved the way for that acknowledgement that life can be rough, but there's always a way to get through it. Usually, the solution involves a dancefloor and the kind of energy Arthur specialises in.

"It's kind of how I feel all the time," laughs Arthur. "Yeah, life might be a bit terrible, but I can still go out on a Friday and dance. That's kind of my mentality, so I think it's hard for it to not come out through the music, and I think that's the most common theme. There's a sadness, but there's a bit of hope. Occasionally, I release a song where I'm like, 'Oh god, I'm in a bad way', but I think for as long as I make music, that will be the core thing: we can be sad and boogie. That's the vibe."

It's that dynamism that has seen Arthur playing increasingly bigger rooms on tour - his headline shows at the end of 2024 inspired a feverish response, creating a space to let loose and have a laugh despite whatever is getting you down.

"That's the part that I feel most happy about and blessed," Arthur says. "It seems surreal to go to these places where most of the time I haven't before. Especially in the era of music that we're in at the moment, where people can have a viral moment, and people will go to that show for that song, and they won't necessarily care too much about the others. Whereas I go out there, and everyone's shouting every word, and it really feels like a party, and that gives me the confidence to be an even better performer than I thought I could be - it's so loud, and everyone is so up for it, and I feel so lucky. I think when I'm onstage are the real moments where it feels really special. The thought that the venues are going to get bigger and keep getting bigger is the coolest driving factor for me."

Cultivating that is something that seeps into the studio for Arthur. Not every song is as upbeat, but each has its moment for catharsis - 'Lily' invites you to sing at the top of your voice, whilst 'Life of the Party', with its meditation on growing up and mellowing out, encourages you to take a moment of introspection amongst the madness. It's an immersive experience from start to finish, both on record and onstage.

"I think I'd be lying if I said I don't really think with each song I make how this will feel live," says Arthur. "That feels like the moment where they're going to connect to it the most. I want people to have the best time. As cliche as it is, gigs are the best places in the world. You just forget about everything. If you can go there for an hour or two, even if they're the sad songs, you can belt them out as loud as you can, and it'll be like therapy. It doesn't have to all be dancing. I'm often thinking about, how will this connect with them? And how will it feel live? That's a big thing for me."

With that connection solidified somewhere between the live experience and the resonance in Arthur's lyricism, it's no surprise that things have progressed so quickly for him. With a legion of devoted fans and the musical chops to warrant them, he has well and truly hit his stride and has begun to feel that confidence more and more.

"Often, I have moments where I still feel quite new to everything," shares Arthur. "I'm a work in progress, definitely. But in the studio, I often am really sure of myself, and I know what I want to get across. I hold myself to a really high standard. I have so many songs that won't come out which are probably quite good, but they just don't feel good enough. It's a tricky one to gauge if I'm being too egotistical, but I think that's important… It definitely takes time to get to that, and that's why I'm really happy with the EP. At the start, I would often be too shy to say things - six hours into a session, I'd be like, 'I don't think I like this chorus', but I wouldn't tell anyone, which is so stupid. I've definitely got past that. I always leave thinking that we've made something good."

The EP release marks a new chapter in Arthur's career, and it's one that is looking particularly rewarding. With a tour in Europe just around the corner and UK dates set for later in the year, there's a lot to look forward to. Closing the year out with his biggest headline show to date at Brixton Academy, the gigantic leap he has taken of late is really beginning to sink in.

"When people mention Brixton, I get very scared. I don't think I'm scared about actually doing it. I think it'll be great once I get there, but that is a lot. Am I that big? I don't know. The thought of it is so exciting. I love the idea of having a big stage, I don't even necessarily mean the crowd, but the more I can run about on the stage makes me really excited. That's the main reason I'm happy about it. Get me a wireless mic. If I have a wire, I'll be tripping around all the time - get me a wireless and I'll do an ultra marathon on stage whilst I'm dancing. All the regional venues, I just couldn't be more excited. If the energy of the crowd can stay the same, in bigger venues I think there could be some really special shows. And, it gives me something to look forward to in winter, which is always nice.

With what sounds like a levelled-up live show in the works and an increasingly impressive catalogue of songs under his belt, Arthur Hill isn't as disoriented as he might've been when he first set out on this path. With 'In The Middle Of Somewhere', he has found the map and the direction he needs – now, it's just a case of following them wherever it may take him.