By Colin 
After four years out of the spotlight, Mabes is back with fresh energy and full creative freedom. Her new single ‘No Regrets’, out 27th June, is a vibrant summer anthem that blends her acoustic roots with a bolder, more expansive pop production. It’s the first release of a new era—one defined by growth, independence, and fearless self-expression.
Written with Matt Newman and Dan Holloway, and mixed by the late Nick Webber, ‘No Regrets’ carries a powerful message of moving forward without apology. With dreamy guitars, layered vocals and a lyric that hits like a mantra—“Since the day I left I’ve got no regrets”—the track celebrates self-worth and emotional clarity. We caught up with Mabes to talk about her return, her influences, and what this new chapter means for her music.
‘No Regrets’ is your first release in four years—and your first as an independent artist. How does it feel stepping back into the spotlight on your own terms?
I’m rediscovering myself as an artist, and it’s totally liberating! I’m doing it all for me this time, and putting aside the premises of anything external. And my loyal following, of course – I can’t wait to finally give them all something fresh and new.
The line “Since the day I left I’ve got no regrets” feels incredibly powerful. Was there a specific moment or turning point that inspired this lyric?
The song is about me breaking free from a toxic relationship, and having that moment of enlightenment when realising I am so much better without that person dragging me down and making me doubt my self-worth. It is both an anthemic shout from the rooftops and a sigh of relief.
This track balances a soulful pop energy with hints of your folk and country roots. How intentional was that blend, and where do you see your sound heading next?
I’ve often found my writing style aligns with my taste in music at that moment. Lyrics hold core values of folk and country, the repetitive hook sucks me into the pop world – and I’m totally okay with it! This is my next chapter, and time to organically grow and experiment with my evolving sound.
You worked with Matt Newman and Dan Holloway on the songwriting, and the late Nick Webber mixed the track. Can you tell us a bit about that creative process and what each of them brought to it?
I had the idea for the guitar riff when I was on a train to Dan’s studio – I rushed through the door and we laid it down almost immediately. Dan added a beat and some bass and the song came to life voluntarily, and the chorus flowed as Dan and I bounced off each other’s excitement. I took the short demo idea to Matt who I have worked with a lot over the years – he knew exactly the ingredients to turn it from an idea into a full-blown anthemic performance. We then sent it over to Nick who was always intuitive to my sound, and he mixed it to perfection. He added a vinyl crackle that’s happily dancing over the top of the first verse, his sprinkling of glitter that I now hold very dear.
There’s a real sense of empowerment in the lyrics. Did you write ‘No Regrets’ with a message for anyone in particular—or was it something you needed to say for yourself first?
This song is for anyone who needs a reminder that ‘you will get over them!’ The day will come when you rear your head from the heartbreak and realise that you deserve better. I’ve definitely said that to myself a few times over the years after some questionable relationship choices.
It’s been a few years since Keeping the Noise Down, which had a more introspective, acoustic tone. How do you look back on that era now in contrast to this new chapter?
My journey as an artist is ever-evolving – cliché but so true! I am ready to experiment with a bigger bolder sound to echo my new chapter. It’s still very me, and very raw emotionally vulnerable, just heavily seasoned with pop vibes.
You’ve been praised for your emotional honesty and vulnerability in your songwriting. With ‘No Regrets’, how do you balance personal storytelling with creating a more radio-ready, bold sound?
That’s a great question — and it gets to the heart of what makes a song like ‘No Regrets’ resonate on multiple levels.
When artists are praised for emotional honesty and vulnerability, it’s often because they’re willing to expose the messy, unfiltered truth of what they’ve lived through. But with a track like ‘No Regrets’, the challenge becomes: how do you keep that rawness intact while packaging it in a sound that can hit hard on the radio?
The balance lies in intention and production choices. The songwriting might still come from a deeply personal place — heartbreak, growth, defiance, acceptance — but instead of a soft, acoustic delivery, you push that emotion through bold arrangements: big drums, heavy synths, or a defiant hook. The vulnerability is still there; it’s just wearing a louder jacket.
In ‘No Regrets’, that bold sound becomes part of the story. It says, “I’ve been through hell, but I’m not staying there. I’m moving forward with power.” That’s what makes the track resonate — it’s not vulnerability for vulnerability’s sake. It’s evolution.
So the honesty stays in the lyrics and delivery, while the bold production helps make the message more universal — something that sounds like a personal anthem, but feels like everyone’s fight song.
The production has drawn comparisons to Haim and The 1975. Were there any artists or albums that influenced your sonic direction for this release?
I love that comparison – both Haim and The 1975 are so bold in their sound. For this release, I definitely took inspiration from artists who blend heartfelt songwriting with rich, atmospheric production. I was listening to a lot of Phoebe Bridgers, Clairo, and even a bit of Fleetwood Mac. That dreamy yet grounded vibe. I’ve always leaned acoustic and folk, but I wanted to push myself sonically and create something that felt modern without losing the intimacy of my lyrics.
What has independence allowed you to explore creatively that you couldn’t before? Has the experience changed how you approach making music at all?
Absolutely, being independent has been a game changer. It’s allowed me to take risks, experiment more, and ultimately stay true to myself. There’s a freedom in making music on your own terms. I’ve been able to work with people I genuinely connect with, follow the direction that feels right in the moment, and let songs evolve naturally. It’s definitely changed my process – it feels less like ticking boxes and more like creating something meaningful, from the ground up.
With a renewed sense of purpose and a confident new sound, what comes next for Mabes? Is ‘No Regrets’ the start of an EP, an album, or a string of standalone singles?
‘No Regrets’ marks a new chapter for me, and I’m really excited about what’s coming. I’ve been writing and recording a collection of songs that all stem from this same place of growth, reflection, and self-belief. Whether it ends up as an EP or a full album is still unfolding, but there’s definitely a bigger picture behind it. For now, I’m taking it one release at a time – sharing music that feels authentic, without overthinking the format. But yes, there’s more to come.
‘No Regrets’ is set for release on 27th June. You can find out more along with our review of the single here. You can follow Mabes over on Instagram and you can pre-save ‘No Regrets’ here.