Sunderland-based singer-songwriter Lottis Willis has been steadily building a name for herself in the North East music scene, blending heartfelt lyrics with infectious melodies and catchy hooks. With her latest single ‘Rosie’, she delivers a deeply personal yet universally relatable song, reflecting both her musical growth and the strength of her collaborative spirit. Scott Hays caught up with Lottie to discuss the new release, her inspirations, and what the future holds.
Congratulations on the new single, ‘Rosie’. Could you tell us the story behind this song and who ‘Rosie’ is, whether she’s a real person or a metaphor?
Rosie is actually my teddy, who was on my bed next to me while I was writing this song. I wrote it last summer after watching ‘It Ends With Us’ at the cinema. It was the first time I had really sat down to write a song in a long while, but I felt it was the right moment after exploring new sounds with the band. The name Rosie was initially just a placeholder, but after finishing the tune and playing it through with the band, I felt it worked so well and was so catchy that the name had to stick.
You’ve had some incredible experiences, from getting BBC Introducing support to sharing stages with artists like Rag’N’Bone Man and Paul Smith. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
Finding my band has been an absolute game changer for me and my music. I’d definitely say the biggest lesson is to find good people to work with. The band really get my vibe and are genuinely excited about what’s going on at the moment, which helps so much. The same goes for producers, photographers, videographers, and everyone involved in the creative process. I’ve been making music alone for years, but being able to do it with friends makes it so much better – more fun and, honestly, it improves the music itself. Having a supportive, collaborative environment makes a huge difference.
As a Sunderland-based artist, how does the city and the wider North East music community inspire or impact your songwriting?
It’s a lush community to be part of. We’ve played some fantastic shows across the North East this year with friends both old and new. Everyone is so supportive, and people genuinely try to attend gigs by other local artists as much as possible. Discovering new artists and sharing the stage with musicians I might not have known before really motivates me to write. As I mentioned earlier, having a community of talented friends who are keen to help and collaborate has been massive for me this year. It’s inspiring to be surrounded by people who are passionate about music and willing to lift each other up.
With ‘Rosie’ now out, what’s next for you? Is this single a standalone release, or is it the first taste of a larger project, perhaps a follow-up to your debut EP?
There’s definitely lots more where ‘Rosie’ came from. We’ve been working in the studio for over a year on songs both old and new, and I’m so excited for people to hear some of the other material we’ve been creating. ‘Rosie’ is the first single and it’s part of a larger collection of finished songs that will follow at the start of next year. It’s just the beginning, and I can’t wait to share the full project when it’s ready.
You can listen to ‘Rosie’ now on all major streaming platforms.
