The lead single, ‘Focus Is Power’ was named Radio 1’s Hottest Record. Alongside this title Taylor was present in the BBC Radio 1 studio to provide commentary for the track whilst unveiling the news of her highly anticipated third album.

Focus Is Power.
Hottest record on @BBCR1 from 6:30PM. pic.twitter.com/m6XuMaMGrj

— Self Esteem (@SELFESTEEM___) January 21, 2025

The first preview of ‘Focus Is Power’ arrived at the right time, Taylor provided a reflection to listeners on the necessity of its release, stating in her interview with Saunders: “we need to hear it today […] Unfortunately I’ve written a song that is coming out today and the week that we’re having in the news it’s horribly appropriate”.

‘Focus Is Power’ showcases Taylor’s ability to create a healing and empowering experience within her music. Still quintessentially ‘Self Esteem’ in nature, the power within the fusion of Taylor and the accompanying choir’s vocals leaves listeners with an outer-body experience intertwined with euphoria and hope. As the chorus prevails: “I deserve to be here / And every time I fall, I crawl back like an animal / My focus is powerful”, Taylor’s soulful message throughout is both heartfelt and uplifting.

If you have focus, you have power. The power to change, learn, educate, fight. Even it it’s just in the tiniest way. Find the small pockets of defiance, focus, and keep existing. — Self Esteem (@SELFESTEEM___) January 22, 2025

While speaking with Radio 1, the ‘Prioritise Pleasure’ songstress delved into her mindset for the single: “I wrote it a long time ago […] in the pandemic I wrote it on a piece of paper in my mum and dad’s shed and stuck it up […] I felt very hopeless, and the world keeps making it hard to be me, or my peers or anyone who’s not a certain demographic.”

As ‘Focus Is Power’ provides a precedent for the upcoming album, ‘A Complicated Woman’, the 38-year-old musician provided some context as to what fans can expect: “The whole album is like, ‘I’m defeated but I’m defiant’ obviously because I always will be”.

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While being three albums deep into her ever-blooming career, Taylor recalled: “each album is like a time stamp of where I’ve got to, and me trying to make sense of it”.

Alongside ‘Focus Is Power’, there will be 11 other tracks for fans enjoy. Taylor referred to the upcoming LP as a “huge collaboration” not only with the various choirs present on the tracks but within her choice of collaborations. For instance, ‘Logic, Bitch!’ will feature Sue Tompkins, ‘Lies’ featuring Nadine Shah, while ‘In Plain Sight’ sees another iconic collaboration between Taylor and Moonchild Sanelly (who recently collaborated on ‘Big Man’ last June).

‘A Complicated Woman’ will release April 25 via Polydor Records. As anticipation builds for Self Esteem’s upcoming release, the LP is available to pre-order here.

The singer described the new single in a statement as a “song about reclaiming being a moody cow“. “My whole life I’ve been referred to as mardy (northern for moody) but lately I’ve been realising as a woman in this world, especially as a woman in the music industry, of fucking course I’m moody!” she continued.

“It’s such a slog even getting heard, every day shitting yourself about your safety, the societal expectations. I’d love to be sweet and happy go lucky but I’m afraid I’m too tired to be most of the time.”

Listen to “Moody” here.

The new single is from Self Esteem upcoming album Prioritise Pleasure, which is out 22nd of October via Fiction Records. The album can be pre-ordered here. 

Her music is like a “Trojan horse”, “You think you’re getting this sugary injection of a pop song but it’s going to leave you with something more”- she explains. The new album is about indulging in fun and “true mindless relaxation” as a female, just like men do via football or video games. “Have a bath with a nice candle! It sounds daft but it really is a good little intro to it. I’m really at the start of it as well, but saying prioritise pleasure every day for the next year is going to help me remember to” advised Taylor.

Self Esteem will hit the road next year for the UK live shows, starting off on 28th February in Huddersfield and ending on 25th March in Sheffield. Tickets go on sale on 21st September but you can get early access here.

Preorder my album PRIORITISE PLEASURE before Monday 20th September 8.30am to get to get priority access to tickets for the Feb/Mar UK Tour 2022. Priority tickets will go on on sale Tuesday 9am. If you have already bought – you will automatically get access to the presale.

— Rebecca Lucy Taylor (@SELFESTEEM___) September 16, 2021

Full Self Esteem UK Tour Dates are:

28/02/22 – The Parish – Huddersfield
01/03 – St Lukes -Glasgow
02/03 – Stylus – Leeds
03/03 – CHALK – Brighton
04/03 – Trinity – Bristol
23/03 – Cathedral – Manchester
24/03 – The Forum – London
25/03 – Octagon – Sheffield