Mimi Webb: "When things feel so lost and dark, know that you’re going to come back stronger than ever"

Having enjoyed a UK top 10 hit by age 20, it was clear Mimi Webb was prodigiously talented. Now 25, the singer’s sizeable                   fanbase only continues to grow. Certainly, she’s come a long way from her origins in Canterbury, where as an aspiring pianist, she dreamed of performing on the biggest stages.

Indeed, Webb today embodies what so many teenage girls yearn to be – a pop star with a huge social media following, surrounded by adoring friends. However, the singer wants to get one thing straight.

“I’m not someone who wants to be perfect,” she says. “I’m someone who wants to be me.”

That’s the message at the core of her upcoming album, Confessions. And having concluded the tour for her previous LP, Amelia, in Cork, Webb will make another Leeside return this autumn. She insists it’s the tour-stop she’s most looking forward to – as well as feeling the city serves up the best pints, Webb also notes it’s the home of her long-time friend Cian Ducrot.

“I’m due to come back, for that’s for sure,” says Webb. “The last time I was there was for Jonas Brothers a year ago. They’re such old souls in the business – they’ve been doing it for so many years. The advice from them, business-wise and in general on touring, is so inspiring.”

However, Mimi also notes her fondness for a certain 2008 musical starring Joe Jonas.

“I’m a huge Camp Rock fan,” she enthuses. “So it was crazy being able to actually watch them in the flesh, and to also perform with them was incredible.”

Perhaps her love for the movie also partially stems from a scene in which a pop star advises that, “It’s not all about your image… None of it means anything unless people see who you really are.”

It’s a message that seems to have stuck with Mimi – she notes that embracing her authentic self has been a central theme as her career has progressed.

“Even from my first album to this one, there’s an exciting evolution,” she says. “It’s so nice to see how I’ve grown, not just as a person and an artist, but as a woman in general. In your twenties, you really want to start learning and exploring self-love – I’m learning to value myself. With Amelia, it was all very bright, light and open.

“It was very surface-level, and I don’t mean that in a negative way, because there was a lot of emotion put into those songs – it was beautiful. But on Confessions, there’s a lot more mystery. There’s a darker tone and a feeling that I’m someone who’s really been through life now. I’ve learned lessons I’ve been able to write about and put into this album.”

Indeed, Webb says the album is reflective of “unexpected turns of events”. It’s full of ups and downs, positives and negatives – just like the last few years of her life.

“In this industry, you can go from cloud nine, on top of the world, and then things can just, you know… “she sighs. “It’s hard to carry on believing in yourself and not compare yourself to others. Everyone has that in any career, in any industry. ‘Oh, my colleague’s done this better than me’, or ‘my colleague completed that project quicker.’

“We as humans constantly judge ourselves and we’re very hard on ourselves – we’re all out here trying to find a meaning.”

I’m sure we all can relate. Perhaps we’re all in need of some Mimi advice…

“Be kinder to yourself, trust and believe in yourself, and let the universe do its magic,” she says. “That’s what I’ve learned through the process of this album, and it’s something I want to share with my fans as well. When things feel so lost and dark, know that you’re going to come back stronger than ever.”

Sure enough, Webb has taken her own advice.

“I feel very empowered by my loved ones, my family and friends,” she says. “When I’m around them, I automatically feel valued and appreciated, and it gives me this glow. I love being onstage, because I love being able to share my message with everyone and help people feel brighter in themselves.”

Along with her love for her fans, she’s also found some for herself.

“Being able to be within myself when I’m feeling low, and letting things pass by and enjoying my feminine energy, and letting life take its course – that’s helped. It’s hard to do that, because you feel like everything’s going wrong at first. But actually, that’s when the universe starts working.”

The singer firmly believes in the power of the universe. And rightly so, given it’s brought her to where she is now. Confessions sees her telling her truth about the Mimi-verse, and wearing her heart on her sleeve.

“I’m confessing to a lot of things on the album,” she says. “Throughout music, everything looks so perfect. Life looks glamorous, the tours look amazing and the Instagram pictures look great. Confessions is a moment to sit down and be honest with myself, number one, and my fans, number two. That no, not everything has been perfect.

“There’s been a lot of hard life lessons along the way. Anything can knock you down, but it’s all about getting back on your feet and carrying on. That’s the confession that I’ve been aiming to make.”

• Confessions is out now.