by Adam Goldsmith

Billie Flynn arrives not so much on the crest of a wave, but with the beginnings of a ripple. Releasing her first single, Hey Stranger, into the ether, the singer-songwriter is reflective but controlled as she considers a reunion with the past. Growing up in the Cornish air, there’s more than a hint of the coast in the intimate scene Flynn weaves with her debut offering. With vocals barely forced to strain, there’s a reassuring sense of calm as Flynn expresses her hopes of meeting expectations – ‘would you recognise me now I’ve grown into a person you don’t even know?’

In her hushed tones, comparisons will undoubtedly be drawn with the likes of Gabrielle Aplin, whose label, Never Fade Records, Flynn recently signed to. But the intimacy of this track gives a sense of who Flynn is herself. Accompanied by a breezy acoustic guitar and the occasional cinematic swell of a cymbal, the effect of her whispered hush is a tone that feels almost confessional. Instantly at ease in her presence, it’s difficult not to feel invested in where she goes next. With the anticipation of a summer Boardmasters slot to come, it is unlikely Flynn will be a stranger to many for long.

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