London-raised Shaefri opens up about her mental health with the driving pop of “Say You’ll Be There”

Her new single, “Say You’ll Be There” is the punchy alt-pop opener to her forthcoming second EP. It sees her candidly discuss her mental, something which she has always been cautious to do. “Most people suffer from depression sometimes, myself included. It’s how you handle it that matters. The song is about communication, about both sides reaching out.”

Between the swelling strings and driving drums Shaefri says “I know I’m not alone, but I won’t reach out either,” an all too familiar feeling. Despite the hopeful and optimistic sound, it’s relatable lyrics like these that drive home the track’s heavy subject matter and reminds us that many people struggling with their mental health still find it difficult to talk about.

However, Shaefri explains that this new collection of tracks come from a much happier place than her first EP. “I wasn’t in a great place mentally when I wrote Cracks and that definitely came across,” says Shaefri. “Every interview I did, I’d be asked if I was okay.” The confidence she gained from its release and reception spurred her on to continue her musical journey and eventually, Girl was born.



“I know I succeeded because when I hear Girl, I hear me and the music I grew up with” she adds, the false starts, sessions that didn’t work out and creative partnerships that didn’t flourish made Shaefri more resilient and more self-assured than ever. “Say You’ll Be There” and the rest of the EP is proof that the bad times can make way for the good.