Mychelle synthesises the personal and poetic on “Younger Self"

A voice on the rise, Mychelle radiates a quiet reflection across her tracks to date. The Hackney native first picked up a guitar at the age of ten and began busking around London at 17, showcasing her talents and honing in on her powerhouse vocals. Before long, she was recognised by Idris Elba, who featured Mychelle on his Yardie Mixtape project. The traces of her story are still heard today, as gentle strums and effortless harmonies invoke a sense of comfort on “Younger Self”.

Essentially a track focussed on knowing one’s worth, Mychelle explains “I wrote 'Younger Self' on my guitar at home. It is a song where I am literally talking to my younger self and helping me navigate my way through love.''

Underpinned by a steady drumbeat, the minimal instrumentation of the track allows Mychelle’s voice to soar as she takes on the role of advisor and issues nuggets of wisdom: “take it slow”, “set your boundaries”, and “trust your instincts”. Buoyed by optimism, even its animated music video is emblazoned with inspiring messages about self-worth. There’s a cautionary tone, however, as she likens love to “a black hole” and “a battle” in its main refrain.

“‘Take it from someone who knows’ was the first line I started with and is the first line of the song,” she tells BEST FIT. "Initially, I guess I was writing the song to someone else but over time I realised that it was becoming a song where I am talking to myself.”

I’ve actually written a letter to my older self and I also love to write a diary so the song was definitely inspired by that. I know it doesn’t really make sense because I am me now and can’t actually talk to my younger self but the great thing is that anything can work in a song! More lyrics came together as I was pottering around the house and the following day I had a finished song on my hands. I recorded the vocals and guitar at home. A few months later it was produced by Charlie Perry, who is a super talented producer. He really turned it into the song I dreamed it could be.”

Perry’s classical fingerprints are felt in the sweeping strings of the track’s final moments. It’s uplifting yet tender, as “Younger Self” enchants the listener and provides guidance through the precariousness of life. Her DIY approach, thoughtful lyricism, and captivating voice combine to create a spellbinding listen.