Interview by Tee Tolmar
“Unsinkable” seems the perfect word to describe Lucy Spraggan. The singer-songwriter, who first rose to prominence on The X Factor in 2012, has navigated the music industry’s choppy waters with remarkable resilience. With seven studio albums already under her belt and an eighth on the horizon, Spraggan has established herself as a songwriter known for her honest storytelling and deeply personal emotive lyrics. Today, she joins me to chat about new music, her growth as an artist, and much needed improvements in the music industry.
What colour would her music be? Spraggan recalls commissioning one of her favourite artists, Alyssa Dabbs, to create a visual interpretation of her sound. “There’s a big purple flash down the middle with like a bright yellow behind it,” she says of the art piece that now decorates her East Yorkshire home. “So, I’d have to say purple.”
Music has always been Spraggan’s primary language for processing life’s experiences. “I’ve always observed things and written them down, and they’ve always just been in the format of songs,” she explains. This approach has produced deeply personal works like ‘Run’, ‘Sober’, and ‘Unsinkable’ – songs that chronicle her journey through sexual assault recovery, embracing sobriety, and battling depression.
“Making sure that [she] got it right and [paid] respect to the original song”, was a time-consuming but deeply fulfilling process that she likens to the process of ageing wine in a barrel; the years since their original release have allowed the songs to develop richer complexity over time.
Her upcoming album Other Sides of the Moon, set for release this summer, represents a meaningful evolution in her music. The collection features reimagined versions of songs from her previous records alongside brand-new material. This project has allowed Spraggan to revisit earlier works with newfound perspective. Revisiting these songs, especially ‘Tea and Toast’, written during her teenage years, “has been amazing,” she reflects. “Making sure that [she] got it right and [paid] respect to the original song”, was a time-consuming but deeply fulfilling process that she likens to the process of ageing wine in a barrel; the years since their original release have allowed the songs to develop richer complexity over time.
The album’s opening track, ‘Unsinkable’, recently found unexpected spotlight when featured on Britain’s Got Talent, prompting the decision to release the single earlier than planned. Spraggan knew the song would be used, but she hadn’t anticipated its prominence in the programme. “I turned on the TV, and they’ve played the whole of the song, and I was just like, ‘wow, we need to make this Shazamable. We need to release it now’,” she recalls with infectious enthusiasm.
The transformation narrative of ‘Unsinkable’ mirrors Spraggan’s own journey, as she continuously finds ways to turn difficult experiences into art that resonates with others.
Originally released in 2015, ‘Unsinkable’ holds special significance in Spraggan’s discography. She wrote it during a period of depression, “when it always felt like it was raining wherever I went.” The song emerged from a vision of relentless rain becoming so heavy it might overwhelm her, eventually transforming into a powerful reminder of inner strength. This transformation mirrors Spraggan’s own journey, as she continuously finds ways to turn difficult experiences into art that resonates with others.
The new single also features a reworked ‘Sober’, a collaboration with Robbie Williams that feels almost predestined. Both artists have spoken openly about their sobriety journeys, creating an authentic partnership through the shared contact of Simon Cowell. Spraggan discovered they would be revisiting the song together while chatting with Williams before their show at Sandringham Estate, when he casually mentioned they’d be working on it together. She says it feels as though she “manifested this whole thing”, having been an avid fan of Williams’ music, particularly his album Swing When You’re Winning.
This spirit of collaboration has increasingly shaped Spraggan’s creative approach. Her songwriting typically begins with lyrical concepts — often a potential chorus line or an overarching theme — before developing the melody at the piano. Over the past decade, co-writing has become central to her process. “I love writing songs with the same people over and over again,” she shares. “It’s so great to hear somebody else’s musical perspective on my ideas.”
Beyond creating music, Spraggan has been outspoken about wanting to improve the industry itself. When discussing whether she’s been able to contribute to positive change, she offers a candid assessment. Whilst she would love to say yes, she is uncertain. She describes the industry as “a ball of yarn” needing unravelling in numerous areas, with “so many different colours of yarn” and “so many different ends to pull out and fix.” Meaningful transformation, she suggests, would require “a seismic shift” including fundamental changes in power at the highest levels.
Despite these challenges, Spraggan continues to forge ahead. As our conversation concludes, she hints at two confidential projects on the horizon while preparing for her UK tour beginning 20th March in Settle. Throughout her career, Spraggan has consistently demonstrated that she is, indeed, unsinkable – creating music that not only reflects her own journey, but offers hope to listeners navigating their own storms.
Interview by Tee Tolmar
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