Self Esteem reveals she's 70% through making her 'difficult third album', and it's 'not what you think'

Self Esteem has revealed that she is approximately "70 per cent" through the creation of her third album, which she describes as "honest" and "complicated".

Rebecca Lucy Taylor shared insights about her new material during a recent interview on Annie Macmanus and Nick Grimshaw's Sidetracked podcast.

Taylor confirmed that work is well underway on the follow-up to her 2021 BRIT and Mercury Prize-nominated album 'Prioritise Pleasure', but hinted at a departure from her previous sound.

"I think I'm 70 per cent through making the difficult third album," she said. "No one has ever been that interested in what I'm about to do. The last album had its little moment, so I've got a natural amount of stress from that."

Taylor explained that her new work stems from a different source of inspiration, reflecting her current career crossroads. "I used to have a very clear idea about what I wanted… Now the idea isn't that clear. I don't know if it's because I'm burnt out or because I'm 37," Taylor shared. "My mate the other day was like 'Is there anyone who has done what you've done?', and I was like 'That's the problem, in a way'. Everyone else did it in their 20s so there's no blueprint. At 40 most women disappear, and I'm just getting started."

She added: "I'm all about 'the universe is in charge and we're not' – all of that. I'm on that train now, so I'm just trying to believe my own thoughts basically. We'll wait it out and it'll come."

Regarding the album's sound, Taylor said: "I am excited. It's not what you think though. I think everyone thinks I'm going to do a good, poppy crossover. I did want to try and do that but it wasn't possible. I made quite a complicated listen. It's horribly honest. It's too honest."

Since the release of 'Prioritise Pleasure', Taylor has collaborated with Moonchild Sanelly on the single 'Big Man'. Describing the collaboration, Taylor explained: "Me and Moon wrote a song from the perspective of a good boyfriend. The ones that are just chill and secure so they just leave you to it. The ones that don't want a medal for doing the bins.

"The ones that see that you're working your tits off so they go and get yet another thing you've ordered and missed the delivery of from the post office. The ones that don't take your success as a direct threat to their existence. To me, this is real masculinity."