Artists curated and interviewed by music journalist Hattie Collins

Ok Ewan (23) grew up in Buckingham and now lives in Bristol.

Insta : OK.EWAN

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What’s it like where you’re from?

Chaotic as fuck, but I love it. I always describe Bristol as a mini-London – all the boroughs have something different going on and the people are so lush.  

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Where would you like to live?

London’s the dream. Bright lights, big city and that.

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Why do you make music?

I was going through hell in school and my teachers could see I enjoyed English – particularly poetry – so she suggested I tried writing my own. After that I couldn’t stop. I was writing shit songs with visions of becoming the next Alex Turner!

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Ok Ewan is…

A bad bitch.

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Who are the people, places, and sounds that impact you most creatively?

Honestly, it’s all about the new experiences and the company you keep. I went to Madrid a couple of years ago to visit my boyfriend and fell in love with that city. I was on the plane home and ended up writing a whole album’s worth of songs after six months of writer’s block.

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You dropped the brilliant EP Before The Portal Closes in 2024 – what did you want us to think with the title?

I wanted people to think, “Wow, okay girl, what a cool title. I need to go listen to this asap!”

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That title song, the track that closes the EP, is so beautiful – it made me feel really emotional.

We came to the end of recording for the EP when I decided we needed an outro. I felt so proud of how far I’d come and all the hard work I’d put in to be where I am today. I had to pay homage to the 14-year-old boy that thought he’d never see his 16th birthday.

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What do you want us to take away from your music?

I want people to feel what they want to feel – to feel encouraged to be themselves and know they’re not alone.

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Of all the songs you've made, which are you most proud of?

‘Never Enough’ with Leo gets me too gassed. Honestly, we put all sorts of magic into that one.

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What’s the best thing to happen to you in the last 12 months?

Brat.

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What other creatives would you like to work with?

I’d love to work with Jordan Peele on a remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but this time we’d make it a psychological horror/slasher.

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Who do you admire most in the whole wide world?

Tyler the Creator is literally the most talented human being ever to have existed on this planet. His work ethic and execution blows my mind on the daily. He really is the goat.

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I know you're a Palace girlie – how would you describe your style? Does it link to who you are as a musician?

Well, I dress like a straight boy, so no I don’t think it does (laughs). One day I look like a skater boy, the next I’ll look like your dad.

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How do you want to use your influence to make a difference?

I’d love to continue to openly support the LGBTQIA+ community and spread awareness of men’s mental health. As someone who grew up with a lot of internalised homophobia, I think it’s important we let people know they are loved and they’re not alone.

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What was the last tab you opened on Safari?

I was looking at MacBooks on John Lewis as mine has given up on me.

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Most interesting DM slide to date?

No one messages me (laughs). I have to make the first move!

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What does success look like to you?

Success to me is knowing the people around me are happy and taken care of. And I am included in that.

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