Arabella Lucia is back with Steal My Shimmer, her new single out today and the final preview of her forthcoming debut EP, arriving November 13. The London-based Armenian-Canadian singer and guitarist delivers an energetic alt-rock track that addresses sexism and the importance of standing up for yourself, even when your confidence makes others uncomfortable.
After meeting a male musician who apparently struggled to accept her guitar-playing skills, Lucia found herself dealing with comments questioning whether her Gibson SG actually belonged to her father, alongside attempts to undermine her talent. “Not everyone will celebrate your wins, recognise your skills or acknowledge your merit,” she explains. Instead of letting the experience discourage her, she decided to write about it.
The result fits naturally into what Lucia calls her Rockstar Princess universe, where feminine aesthetics coexist with a punk attitude. It's an approach that reflects both her musical identity and her determination to challenge expectations within a traditionally male-dominated scene. She's also been taking that energy to the stage, performing at events including The Alternative Escape, Bludfest and Gibson Garage London's Acoustic Sessions.
The single follows her recent reinterpretation of TLC's Unpretty and Hostage You Call Baby, two releases that have already introduced different sides of her songwriting. Both will feature on her upcoming five-track EP, a project that promises to explore personal experiences and the complicated process of finding your own voice.
For now, Steal My Shimmer makes her position quite clear. “It's an anthem of defiance dedicated to anyone who's ever been told to shrink their spirit to accommodate the insecurities and limiting projections of others,” she says.
