Skye Newman’s journey into stardom was never easy.
Years before her 2025 debut single Hairdresser skyrocketed her into the UK Top 20 charts, she began posting performance videos on social media, which went viral during the Covid-19 lockdown.
The 22-year-old, who was rejected from the prestigious performing arts institution the Brit School twice, now has two certified gold singles and was crowned the winner of BBC Radio 1’s Sound of 2026.
BBC Bitesize sat down with Skye to discuss working-class representation, creative expression and the importance of never giving up.
Kimberley: Skye, you speak so openly about how hard you've worked to get to where you are. Where do you think your resilience comes from?
Skye Newman: I'd probably say the people around me, my friends and my family. I think seeing them always put up a fight and say what they want to say, never scared to speak their mind. I mean, not always the best choice in some situations, but we live and we learn. I got to learn mistakes through them, so that's probably a good thing.
Kimberley: Absolutely, but with that in mind it's authentic, isn't it? And I think that's why you resonate with so many people because you're real.
Skye Newman: Thank you, thank you. Well I come from a normal life, I'm a normal person. I think every person in this job is normal and so many people when you meet them are like, "What's it like?" And I'm like, it makes you realise just how the same we all are.
Kimberley: That it is, isn't it? We've all got things in common.
Skye Newman: Exactly that. We're all just human beings.
Kimberley: Absolutely, absolutely. But you are such a voice for people from working-class backgrounds as well, and I think that's such a cool thing because there are not many people in your position.
Skye Newman: It's needed! It's needed!
Kimberley: It is needed. Up the working classes! Why do you feel it's so important, particularly in the arts and in the creative industries, to speak up for people from those backgrounds?
Skye Newman: I think anything in the creative world is something that can be used to help so many young people because it's a way that you can express emotion. Writing, for me, has always been a way to get my pain and trauma out in a healthy way and do it right, rather than going out and causing chaos and wreaking havoc because I'm angry at the world. I think that any artistic thing involves that. It creates passion, it creates fire, it creates drive, it gives you a path, something to follow rather than getting lost. And I think coming from my world, you can get lost very, very easily. So I do think there needs to be more funding and more put into that because you could save many, many lives, and I mean that so strongly.
Kimberley: Yeah, absolutely. And to our young audience that's watching, if they want a bit of an outlet, would you advise music, art, writing?
Skye Newman: Yeah, 100%. I don't think you realise how valuable it is writing down your thoughts and feelings. When you build all that up, you think it just kind of goes because it's gone out of your mind, but that is storing somewhere in your body. Your body is holding that, and you will burst eventually, so you need to get that out in a healthy way. And music, art, like I said, anything. Even just dancing. You don't need to do it professionally, not as a job. Just shake it. Literally shake it out. Feel music. Music is universal and that's why I love it so much.
Kimberley: Absolutely. You speak so well, Skye, and I think you've achieved so much at such a young age. But if you could go back in time and speak to younger Skye, what piece of advice do you think you would give to her?
Skye Newman: I would tell her that you're so incredibly strong, you're so brave, you're so powerful. Be less harsh on yourself. It's not your fault. There are some things we can't control in life, and that's okay. You've just got to let it be. Let it be. That's the best advice I can give to you. Focus on yourself. You can't deliver the best version of yourself to other people unless you put yourself first. I think that's not something that we quite grasp when we're younger. We think that by giving the most to other people, that's going to have the best end result, but it doesn't because you'll end up burning yourself out. Don't do it.
Kimberley: Literally. Couldn't put it better myself. Skye, thank you so much for talking to us.
Skye Newman: Thank you for having me. I love you guys. You can do anything.
“I come from a normal life, I am a normal person.”
Hailing from South-East London, Skye speaks candidly about how hard she has worked to get to the top. The singer-songwriter praises her family and friends for providing her with the resilience she has today. “Seeing them always put up a fight and say what they want to say and never scared to speak their mind,” she told BBC Bitesize.
“Not always the best choice in some situations but we live and we learn to make mistakes through them,” she added.
When Skye released her single Family Matters, a song that explores her life growing up in a council estate, it reached number five in the UK charts. She stresses the importance of working-class individuals taking up space in the arts.
“I think anything in the creative world is something that can be used to help so many young people,” she said. “It’s a way that you can express emotion. Writing for me has always been a way to get out my pain and trauma in a healthy way. […] It creates passion, it creates drive, it gives you a path to follow rather than feeling lost.”
But she’s also aware that there are many barriers and obstacles that make accessing the industry difficult. “There needs to be more funding and more put into that because you could save many, many lives and that I mean so strongly.”
The importance of resilience
To young audiences, Skye emphasises the significance of creativity in your day to day life. In particular she highlights how valuable it is to write down your thoughts and feelings.
“If it’s music, writing, even if it’s dancing, you don’t have to do it professionally as a job. Just shake it out. Music is universal and that’s why I love it so much,” she explained.
And after such a meteoric rise into fame, what advice would Skye give to her younger self?
“I would tell her you’re so incredibly strong, you’re so brave, so powerful. Be less harsh on yourself,” she told Bitesize. “Focus on yourself, you can’t deliver the best version of yourself to other people unless you put yourself first and I think that’s something we can’t really grasp when we’re younger.”
“Some things we can’t control in life and that’s okay, you just need to let it be that’s the best advice I can give to you.”
This article was published in August 2026
“We fought to be seen and heard”: Leigh-Anne Pinnock on Little Mix and her new solo album
After the release her of debut solo album, Leigh-Ann talked to BBC Bitesize about all things music, school and representation.
Who wrote it: Taylor Swift or Jane Austen? Play along with BBC Radio 1 presenters
Who is Taylor Swift, who is Jane Austen, and how does their writing compare? Take our Swift or Austen quiz and compare scores with the presenters of BBC Radio 1.
