Colin 
Austel is back with ‘Hotel Room Window View’, a new single that leans into reflection and memory while setting the tone for her upcoming second album Mirror To Mine, due in June. It lands ahead of a headline show at The Harrison in Kings Cross and gives a clear sense of where she’s heading next.
The track opens with a gentle, layered sound built around alt-folk textures. It doesn’t rush into anything. Instead, it takes its time, letting the atmosphere settle before it starts to open up. That approach fits the subject matter, which sits somewhere between looking back and trying to make sense of it.
The idea came from a surreal dream. On the surface, everything in that dream looked right, but underneath it carried a different feeling. That contrast runs through the song. It touches on memory, early experiences and the kind of moments that stay with you long after they’ve passed.
Austel began writing it during lockdown in Devon, where being back in her hometown brought older memories into focus. That distance from her London life gave the song a different perspective. It doesn’t try to tidy those memories up. It lets them sit as they are.
‘Hotel Room Window View’ follows on from ‘30th Day’ and ‘The Beach in December’, both of which started to point toward this more reflective direction. Together, they feel like pieces of a bigger picture that will come into focus on the album.
A clearer sense of direction heading into Mirror To Mine
The upcoming record Mirror To Mine builds on this approach. It’s self-produced and centres on ethereal alt-folk, with nylon-string guitar, subtle arrangements and field recordings all playing a role. Those details help keep the sound grounded while still leaving plenty of space around it.
That sense of space has become a big part of Austel’s work. She tends to leave room in her songs rather than filling every gap, which gives her writing a more natural flow. It also keeps the focus on the ideas behind the music rather than just the production.
Her background explains a lot of that. Before stepping fully into her solo work, Austel spent years as a session musician, performing across the UK and appearing at festivals including Glastonbury. Since launching her solo career in 2018, she’s steadily built a catalogue that reflects both her technical skill and her songwriting instincts.
Her debut EP Unfold introduced that balance, followed by Cold Love in 2020. Then came her debut album Dead Sea, which brought together years of work into a project focused on loss, recovery and change. That record helped establish her as both a producer and a songwriter with a clear identity.
Outside of releasing her own music, Austel continues to develop her role behind the scenes as well. She holds a first-class MA in Creative Music Production and has been long-listed for Breakthrough Producer and Self-Producing Artist of the Year at the MPG Awards. She’s also part of 2% Rising, supporting more inclusive practices within the industry.
With a UK tour planned to follow the album release, everything around Mirror To Mine points toward a step forward. ‘Hotel Room Window View’ feels like the starting point for that.
Review
Austel’s ‘Hotel Room Window View’ pulls you in quietly, but once you’re in, it’s hard to shake. It doesn’t need a big moment to make an impression. The mood does the work, and it lands.
There’s a really strong sense of contrast running through it. On the surface it sounds calm and almost comforting, but there’s something unsettled underneath. That idea carries the track the whole way through and gives it more weight than you expect at first.
Austel keeps her vocal controlled, which fits perfectly here. It never tips into anything overdone, and that restraint actually makes it hit harder. Everything feels deliberate, like nothing’s been added without a reason.
It’s one of those tracks that stays with you after it finishes. Not because of a single hook or standout moment, but because the whole thing feels so locked in. ‘Hotel Room Window View’ knows exactly what it is, and that confidence comes through.
You can listen to ‘Hotel Room Window View’ here and follow Austel over on Instagram and TikTok…