The New Edge of ESSEL

Backing Herself

ESSEL’s rise didn’t hinge on luck, mentorship, or being “discovered.” It came from a moment of clarity — the day she decided she wasn’t waiting anymore.

As she puts it:
“The turning point was when I stopped waiting to be discovered and actually backed myself. It went from messing about to actual manifestation and I just kept on firing tracks till no one could ignore me.”

That self-belief carried her from her early Liverpool days to global stages and chart-topping success. But after years of constant travel, she hit another crossroads — one that led her far from the UK’s motorways and chaos.

“I moved to Tulum because I needed a reset and some headspace. I needed to find the creativity and that wasn’t happening in a place full of chaos. I was living between the motorway and airports whereas life here is slower, more calming, less invasive and more basic, so I’m reconnecting with who I am rather than what people want and need.”

And the change hasn’t just been personal — it’s already reshaping her music.

“Yeah, the energy here definitely creeps into what I’m making — it’s slower in the mornings, deeper at night, and it gives you room to actually feel things instead of rushing. But I’ve still got that UK edge in everything I make. Tulum just chills me out enough to make better decisions in the studio.”

The Tulum Era

While settling into her new life, ESSEL is building the studio that will anchor the next chapter of her sound.

“The studio is about having a proper base again — somewhere I can lock in without distractions and actually finish ideas instead of bouncing between hotels and airports. I want it to feel like a creative cave but also a place where people can come hang, write, vibe… proper energy hub.”

Her signature balance — Tech House drums with warm, emotive house textures — continues to define her process.

“For me it always starts with emotion — pads, chords, that warm feeling. Then I slap the drums on after. That’s how I keep the soul in it without losing the punch.”

And her collaborations reflect that same organic approach.
 “Steel Drums came together dead naturally. Me and Navos have that Liverpool link, so the vibe was already there. It wasn’t some big planned collab — we were just bouncing ideas, and the track kinda built itself. One of those ‘oh mad, this is actually a tune’ moments.”

Then came “The Edge” — the track that shifted everything.

“I knew it felt special when I made it, but I wasn’t sat there thinking it’d blow up the way it did. It was one of those tunes where you finish it and just think, ‘yeah, that feels right.’ The reaction still caught me off guard in the best way.”

As for dream collaborators, ESSEL isn’t chasing big names — she’s chasing chemistry.

“I’d love to collab with someone who pulls something new out of me — someone unexpected. I’m not arsed about chasing the obvious names, I just want that proper back-and-forth where the emotion and groove actually meet. And to be fair, I’ve just found that with someone — I’ve got two collabs on the way with Wankelmut.”

Leveling Up - Without Losing Herself

With her sound evolving and her base in the jungle, ESSEL is stepping into a new global chapter — starting with the U.S.

“I’m not trying to force it; I’m just bringing my sound over there and seeing where it lands. The goal’s simple: connect with the right crowds, build it naturally, and level up without losing myself or what got me here.”

She’s carried the energy of Europe’s most iconic venues with her — especially the ones that defined her.

“Printworks will always hit different for me — the scale, the crowd, the energy… it’s like stepping into another universe. But honestly, every city leaves something on me.”

And as she refines her identity, her music is hitting a new gear.

“I’m more in tune with who I am now — more connected, still finding myself, and that’s exactly why I’m here. But musically I’m taking a heavier approach. Think Sammy Virji meets Chris Lake meets me on a collab — that’s the lane I’m in at the moment. My sets are longer too, more time spent curating what actually resonates with me. I want the crowd to feel that. It’s all good energy.”