Bess Atwell

Brighton singer-songwriter Bess Atwell opens Light Sleeper with the line, “You called yourself broken, but that’s just what people are, that’s how the light gets in,” setting the tone for a record rooted in rawness and self-acceptance. Produced by Aaron Dessner, the album was recorded at his Long Pond studio, where the pair quickly built the trust needed to capture Atwell’s most impassioned vocals to date. “Light Sleeper is about the willingness to feel,” she says.

Written during a period of personal transformation, Atwell reflects on growing up with her autistic sister, tapering off antidepressants, and discovering her own autism diagnosis. These themes echo throughout the album, which explores identity, vulnerability, and the joy of expressing hard truths.

Fresh from supporting Ben Howard and The National across Europe, Light Sleeper marks a bold step in Atwell’s journey of artistic and emotional clarity.