Gabrielle Aplin - 'My Mistake'

Part of the indie folk boom of a few years ago, Gabrielle Aplin could well have become defined by the John Lewis ad cover that launched her into the public eye. Instead, she managed to follow through with a debut album of folk-pop bangers, making her one of the scene’s breakout stars. 

Six years on from ‘The Power Of Love’, Aplin has returned with new single ‘My Mistake’ ahead of the release of her third album. It’s quite a contrast from last year’s wildly underrated pop banger ‘Waking Up Slow’ and sees Aplin stepping into a more stripped back embrace of the flaws that make us human.

The accompanying video is a classy affair that features the singer doing some ballet around a stylish flat and generally looking very pensive. The visual feels like a pop ballad video in the vein of Pixie Lott’s ‘Cry Me Out’, emphasising Aplin’s continued pop focus in spite of a return to a more acoustic sound.

The track has an intimate, confessional feel to it and as she says herself, “is a song about finding a strange sense of comfort in admitting to yourself that you’re not feeling 100% and completely owning it”. It’s shamelessly honest in a way we’ve not previously seen from her and is an intriguing introduction to her third album, which should be coming our way next year.

This single marks the first release as part of a global partnership between her label Never Fade Records and AWAL, Kobalt’s artist and label services arm who are home to Tom Misch, Jorja Smith, Rex Orange County and many more.  Having gone it alone for several years, this is an interesting development and should allow Aplin and the other artists on Never Fade greater financial and administrative support. Get ready to see a lot more of Gabrielle Aplin in 2019.

Words by Hattie Long

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