If the economics course at her sixth-form college hadn’t been full, south London soul singer Debbie Ehirim might never have decided to study music. It was then that she realised her interest in music-making was more than just a childhood pleasure. She began religiously attending open mic nights and dabbling in theatre – but also got a degree in finance. Just in case. (“This degree is definitely a backup plan,” she told Rolling Stone).
Thankfully for Debbie, her break came quickly. By the time she was 22 she had signed to the same label as Stormzy – 0207 Def Jam. She co-wrote a few songs on his latest album, This Is What I Mean, as well as lending her hearty vocals to his love song Firebabe. Their recording session is one the rapper said “he would never forget for the rest of my life”.
Debbie’s debut single, Is This Real Love?, written in her bedroom, is a delicate track on which she remixes the lyrics from J Hus’s Did You See, layering them with ethereal harmonies. The lyrics are inquisitive and suspicious, asking questions about love that only a Gen Z-er could: “Is it for the ’gram … Are we setting the goals?” Her latest single, Cousin’s Car, featuring Berwyn, is a subtly fervent duet about escapism – equally intimate and relatable. Debbie’s ascendance is one that feels imminent and worthy.
Cousin’s Car is out now on 0207 Def Jam
