Hailing from South London, Ego Ella May began uploading her own compositions onto Soundcloud a decade ago. She has since emerged as a cult figure with the capital’s soul and R&B scene.

Her latest single ‘Girls Don’t Always Sing About Boys’ has cool, crisp production courtesy of Eun (Georgia Anne Muldrow, Nubya Garcia), with entrancing neo-soul stylings.

May challenges reductionist and sexist tropes about women songwriters and performers. ‘What if I wanna talk about suffering?… Sanitary kits for homelessness Grenfell, mental health,’ she sings. The song evolves into a wider comment on the expectations and norms levied upon women in society. ‘We’ll go to school and then get married and start a family / And they’ll go to school and then get married and start a family / The cycle continues / When we don’t question what we’re into‘

(Image copyright: Upperroom Records)