Introducing: Jacklyn

West London’s rising pop powerhouse Jacklyn isn’t here to play nice. Fresh off a sold-out headline show and with co-signs from Lola Young, Cat Burns, Jorja Smith and Giggs under her belt, she’s back with her boldest statement yet: *“Don’t Be A ick.” A sugar-rush of biting lyricism and floor-filling energy, the track takes aim at fake friends, industry naysayers and anyone who ever underestimated her. With support already pouring in from BBC Radio 1, Vanity Teen and Spotify’s Fresh Finds, Jacklyn is fast becoming one of the UK’s most exciting new voices.

We sat down with her to talk fake love, finding confidence on stage, and why she’s finally calling people out, unapologetically.

“Don’t Be A ick” is such a bold and unapologetic anthem — what pushed you to finally write a track that calls people out so directly?On the day we wrote it, I went into the session feeling a bit defeated. I just thought, “no one’s gonna care until everyone cares” — so why was I stressing about everything being polished and perfect? I started venting to Gold Spectacles, my collaborators, and they shared their own stories too. It just felt right to throw all that frustration into a song and let it all out.

You’ve said the song could be about anyone — from exes to industry figures to crappy bosses. Was there one moment that lit the fuse, or was it more of a collective release?

Definitely more of a collective release. There wasn’t one single incident, but a mix of a few experiences combined with how I was feeling that day.

Your sharp lyricism has already caught the ears of big names like Jorja Smith and Giggs. How has writing for others shaped the way you approach your own music?

I kind of stumbled into writing for other people, but it became a way to sharpen my pen. It definitely forced me to think outside my own perspective, and that’s bled into my own songs too. A lot of them aren’t even about my first-hand experiences anymore — which I think makes them more relatable.

You’ve supported artists like Lola Young and Cat Burns, and even sold out your own headline show. How has being on stage with such powerful voices influenced your confidence as a performer?

It’s been super inspiring. Performing to a crowd that isn’t there for you is terrifying, but also such a good challenge. You’re hoping to keep their attention, and if you can win them over, that’s a huge confidence boost.

“Don’t Be A ick” is both empowering and fun — an anthem with bite but also a beat you can dance to. How important is it for you to balance raw honesty with playfulness in your sound?Massively important. Over the past year, I’ve realised my sound is becoming more playful. I like taking serious themes and making them feel lighter in the production while still layering meaning into the lyrics. Even though “Don’t Be A ick” is pretty on the nose, the verses dig into heavier stuff — so there’s that mix of fun and depth I love.