Bow Anderson shares new track + video ‘Selfish’ External Inbox

Bow Anderson has today released brand new single ‘Selfish’, which is available now on Island Records. It follows the budding pop star’s viral hit ‘20s’, and tours alongside the likes of Mimi Webb, Ella Eyre and Tom Walker surrounding recent torch song ‘Mama Said’.

‘Selfish’ is revenge-best-served-cold from Bow Anderson, inspired by an ex who asked to support her on tour but also the wider need (says Bow) “to know your worth. I hope it reminds people never to let someone walk all over you and put you down.” The theme is given a playful reimagining in the accompanying video to ‘Selfish’: a tongue-in-cheek twist on the role of the archetypal housewife, but also applying a modern, hyperreal lens on the 60s era that continues to inspire Bow sonically and visually.

‘Selfish’ video still

Even on tracks like ‘Selfish’, it’s this positive attitude underpins everything Bow Anderson does – and her incredible road to making pop music. Bow Anderson was born and bred on the east side of Edinburgh, where – as a teenager – she took part in competitive trampolining; training with people who went on to be part of Team GB before a freak accident put a halt to her competing. As the body she had bet her future on proved fallible, Bow found her voice. During her rehabilitation, Anderson’s father would sing with her each night to help her get to sleep, which led to Bow moving to London after her recovery to hustle making music (the kind of transitions that would be soundtracked on recent single, ‘20s’). Coming from a dance and sporting background, Bow knew that to succeed she would have to put in the graft, as the pop she’s drawn to today mirrors: from the bombast of classic Motown to empowered female role models like Rihanna. Bow Anderson’s early music, continuing today with ‘Selfish’, turns adversity (romantic, physical or emotional) into a point of strength.

Things took another twist on recent hit ‘20s’, which Bow uploaded on Christmas Eve, thinking little of it other than sharing a sound (and sentiment) she was experimenting with at the time. It quickly blew up online, with the Tiktok surpassing 3.9 million views/500K likes, and the single receiving over 11 million global streams (not to mention support across BBC Radio 1, the Spotify Viral Charts, and going top 30 in the German APC).

Whether discussing a toxic ex, a ‘20s’ crisis, or a life-changing injury, Bow Anderson believes that everything happens for a reason. She released her bracing first single, ‘Sweater’, the day the world went into lockdown, with debut EP ‘New Wave’ landing Bow early widespread early support: see sold-out shows at the likes London’s Courtyard Theatre and Camden Assembly, or winning the Best Pop Act prize at the prestigious Scottish Music Awards. Pulling all these strings and tying them together is Bow herself, Scotland’s next great export and pop shot through with sporting spirit.