DIRTY HIT’S LATEST SIGNING
BONNIE KEMPLAY
SHARES BRAND NEW TRACK ‘WAS IT OBVIOUS’
WATCH/LISTEN HERE
“America has gifted us like-minded lo-fi artists such as Clairo and Snail Mail. Kemplay emphatically belongs in such exalted company.” – The Sunday Times, Breaking Act
“A divine listen…alt-pop blessed with a sense of precocious innocence.” – CLASH, Track of the Day
“if this is what she’s managed in just a year, who knows what could come next” – DIY
“From penning alt-pop bops in her girlhood bedroom to the hallowed halls of Dirty Hit’s roster, it’s been a big six months for Edinburgh’s Bonnie Kemplay.” – The Line of Best Fit
Edinburgh-based rising star Bonnie Kemplay releases her intimate new single ‘Was It Obvious’. Delicate, vivid and gorgeously cinematic, singer-songwriter Bonnie is the latest signing to world-renowned record label Dirty Hit (The 1975, Beabadoobee, Wolf Alice), who released her emphatic debut single on the label, ‘19’, to widespread acclaim last month. Watch the visualiser follow-up here: https://bonniekemplay.
Capturing that feeling of burnout that comes when a friendship no longer serves you, ‘Was It Obvious’ feels intimate yet universally relatable. Bonnie has opted for stripped-back acoustic production in favour of a more intricate soundscape that allows her impressive guitar writing to shine. Combined with her eccentric ear for alt-pop melodies and hummable yet vulnerable lyrics, it showcases a captivating new direction in her signature sound.
Speaking on ‘Was It Obvious’, Bonnie explains: “Was it obvious?’ is about a friendship that was no longer working and I didn’t know why. It was like a very precarious Jenga tower that needed someone to remove that stubborn block for it to collapse, and then to build it up again. Instead, I think I just swept the whole thing into a bin.”
Today’s single follows on from ‘19’, Bonnie’s debut release on her newly signed record deal with Dirty Hit. The track cemented her as a vital new voice in the bedroom pop movement, with widespread press support from the likes of The Sunday Times (Breaking Act), Clash (TOTD), NME, Best Fit, Dork, DIY and many more. Last year, Bonnie was named as the UK’s top emerging artist after beating over 10,000 other entries to perform in the world famous Radio 1 Live Lounge, joining the likes of Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus and Stormzy in the Live Lounge history books. The talent search was in partnership with BBC Radio 1 and BBC Music Introducing, in which she unveiled her original song ‘Blushing’ and a cover of The 1975’s ‘If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know)’.
Formerly a Jazz Guitar student at the Royal Northern College of Music, Bonnie began nurturing her love of performing aged just 11 when she was encouraged by her brother to join a community music club who supported her to explore different instruments and build her confidence. Daughter of a guitarist and a painter, Bonnie was constantly surrounded by creativity growing up in Edinburgh and counts artists such as Soccer Mommy, Julien Baker and Clairo among her biggest inspirations. Now aged just 20, she has organically racked up over 1 million streams for her self-described brand of ‘indie sadcore’ and opened for Adele at her recent BST Hyde Park shows. Straight out of the gate, Bonnie has proved herself to be one of the most exciting artists to watch this year, stay tuned for more.