b'FEATUREMABELher highest-charting song to date. It wasIt was the most nervous I have everIts been a two-year recently certified by the Official Chartsbeen in my life, she confesses, Company as the sixth biggest-selling singleadding that her stint on Grahamprocess making this of 2019 so far, and the biggest single by aNortons UK show earlier this year British female artist. was another real pinch-me moment. record - Ive really put everything into it.Were speaking the day after she heard theIts scary because Ive watched both good news and shes still stunned about it,of those shows and like, when you wide-eyed and animated. have watched something and then youre standing somewhere where a big artist has She reveals she was exhausted and instood, and its your turn, those things liveBut at the same time, Im really proud of the middle of a busy work day when herforever. what theyve accomplished, and Ive got to manager showed it to her. a point with it where its not embarrassing And I have a tendency to catastrophiseto talk about and its not going to take I was like, thats how Im getting throughand be like, this could happen or that, andaway from me as an artist, because theyre today because thats an incrediblewhats crazy is that when they actually start,amazing people that have accomplished achievement and Im going think about thatIm like, Of course I can do this. I spent twoincredible things.any time I feel really tired, she explains. days spooking myself but here I am standing here and doing it. She adds: With the confidence I have now, Its the best thing, because then you knowit doesnt bother me as much.all of these things that are making me tiredShe says she was having a meltdown are paying off. before going on Fallons show, though,I feel confident in what Im making and because she thought she would embarrasswhat Im doing, and I know that its not Following years of hard work, growingI always say it took a day to write the song,herself in front of the whole world. because of them.success and tiring schedules, Mabel hasbut the actual process was longer than the unleashed her long-awaited debut album onmaking of the whole album, because itsSometimes its easy to get impostor the world, High Expectations. about me actually coming to terms with mysyndrome and think, Oh my God I am not anxiety. supposed to be here, everybody can see Its been a two-year process making thisthat, blah blah blah. But its important to record - Ive really put everything into it, sheHaving addressed her issues, shehave those moments when you stress, says. acknowledges she is in a better place nowbecause it then makes the highs feel so but still has to deal with nerves, particularlymuch higher.Some of the songs are old to me now andbefore a live performance.Ive been performing them live for a while,Clearly driven and ambitious to her core with but I cant wait for people to sing themHowever, she considers that sick-to-the- a work ethic to rival any pop star who has back to me. It is nerve-racking and quitestomach feeling to be a positive. been in the game for decades, Mabel is keen emotional because Im really attached to it;to make it known that she got to this point its been my identity in many ways for theI get nervous but thats because I care, sheby herself - she did not use her parents as a last few years. Its been my purpose. notes. Nerves are really good; I just lovestep-up into the industry, although she says every single person thats out in the crowdthey do offer her all the support she needs to Mabel reckons the record was the making ofso much and I just want to give them themake her career her own.her, both as an artist and as a young woman. best show possible, so I hope the nerves never leave me. I used to be really afraid that my parents Writing it encouraged her to delve deep intowere the only thing that people were going to her psyche, as well as confront her battleHowever, as nerve-racking as a gig mightcare about and, to be honest, Ive just spent with anxiety, something that has plagued herbe, nothing compares to performing onyears at interviews going, Shall we just call for years. television in front of an audience of millions. in my mum? she laughs.It was really difficult for me to write my songMabel shakes her head, smiling as sheIts frustrating when youre making good OK (Anxiety Anthem) because it was aboutrecalls making her debut on US TV earliermusic and youre working hard. Youre just dealing with my anxiety and looking at it in athis year on The Tonight Show with Jimmylike, why are we talking about this?positive light, she says. Fallon.24 SEPTEMBER 2019 HEYMUSIC.COM 25'