Nieve Ella’s latest single professes a poignant yet relatable apology, exploring the idea of resenting love due to one’s own perceived shortcomings. The track was produced by Iain Berryman (Wolf Alice, Florence + the Machine), who helps to formulate an ethereal and tender ballad.
In an Instagram post, Ella notes how the track was written in her bedroom when she was only 19, whilst navigating her first relationship. The now 22-year-old dives into the emotional dissonance of being loved by someone when you struggle to find anything to love about yourself. The most emotive line of the song, “you love every part of my body / but I can’t even look in the mirror”, summarises the piercingly relatable feeling shared by so many who struggle with self-love and the strangeness of a love that overlooks their self-perceived flaws. A core part of the track is compassion, not only for her partner, but also for her younger self. By admitting her own self-sabotage, she in turn creates a testament to her own growth, reminding listeners that looking at past mistakes with more sympathy is an integral step toward self-acceptance.
The lyrics of ‘All My Mess’ take centre stage, accompanied by tender guitar strums in the background and occasional soft piano melodies. The instrumentation creates a dreamy ambience that cradles the vulnerability of the lyrics. The crafted texture of the song helps to transform the deeply personal lyrics into a track that resonates universally.
Ultimately, the track holds a mirror to Ella’s younger self and gently offers a shoulder of relatability to anyone who understands the feeling of needing to apologise for “all their mess”.
Words by Hollie Panrucker