Introducing: Skell0

Nottingham's genre-blending rising star Skell0 is back—louder, sharper, and more honest than ever. At just 20 years old, the singer, songwriter, and crowd-working powerhouse has already made waves on BBC Music Introducing, earned Track of the Week for his breakout hit Privacy, and racked up local buzz with his debut EP Welcome To Heartbreak High. Now, fresh off the release of his punchy new pop-punk anthem In The End—a heartbreak anthem with hooks and honesty—Skell0 is gearing up to drop his next EP on June 6th. With a sound that swings from pop-rap to punk to stripped-back storytelling, and a live presence built through countless gigs and open mics across Nottingham, this is an artist finding his voice and turning it all the way up.

Your music spans Pop Rap, Conscious Hip Hop, and Pop Punk – what drives your genre-hopping approach, and how do you decide what a song is going to sound like?

I’ve always been inspired by genre-blending artists like Iann Dior and Jxdn, who effortlessly move between Pop Rap, Pop Punk, and Pop. Their constant evolution pushes me to experiment as well.Sometimes, I create purely from emotion—freestyling lyrics a cappella and then finding a beat that fits the mood. Other times, I approach it more intentionally, using a type beat or one custom-made by my producer while focusing on a specific theme.

Being open to different creative processes helps me make better music. It’s also a great way to break through writer’s block. Sometimes, using a beat first helps me find the right melody, and other times, starting with a topic or title inspires the lyrics. Both methods give me flexibility and keep things fresh.

You dropped your debut EP Welcome to Heartbreak High on your birthday – what made that release so personal for you, and how has your sound evolved since then?

My debut EP Welcome To Heartbreak High was incredibly personal because it captured the heartbreak I experienced at a young age. Some songs are more emotionally raw than others—especially the title track, Heartbreak High. That one specifically reflects on my teenage years, being in school, and dealing with heavy emotions like heartbreak and early depression.

I also mention experiences I had after school, I struggled with substance abuse and felt trapped in a dark cycle of dependency. Unfortunately, this is becoming more common among teens in my generation and even generations below, and I wanted them to know they’re not alone. Ultimately, I aimed to create a song that teenagers could relate to, while also crafting lyrics that feel timeless—because heartbreak and struggles like addiction don’t just belong to one age group.

Another personal track on the EP is Privacy, which quickly became a fan favorite and was named Track of the Week by Dean Jackson on BBC Radio Nottingham in April 2023. It’s a love song where I question whether someone genuinely likes me, while also reflecting on past toxic relationships. It felt more upbeat—probably because of the flow and bouncy beat—and I was truly proud of how it turned out. Privacy was the first track I uploaded to the BBC Introducing Uploader, and the first one they played. It also marked the first full collaboration between me and my producer, Redboy, which made it even more special.

Since then, my sound has evolved a lot. I’ve been writing constantly, and my producer improves with every track we make. I’ve become more focused on flow, beat selection, and paying equal attention to both verses and hooks. I’ve also been pushing myself vocally—experimenting with higher registers and adding more depth to my delivery.

As someone who struggled with songwriting for years, the best advice I can give is to stay consistent, explore new topics, and allow yourself to experience new things—because life itself is where the best ideas come from.

Your latest single In The End dives into the emotional fallout of a failed relationship. What’s the story behind the song, and why was Pop Punk the right outlet for it?

My new single In The End is about a heartbreak that feels inevitable, even though you desperately don’t want it to happen. From the beginning, it felt too good to be true, which led me to question whether I approached things the right way.

It explores the overthinking and confusion that often come with situationships, and how that uncertainty can leave you wondering if staying just friends would have been the safer choice. Situationships are incredibly common now, especially in my generation, and I wanted to reflect that experience honestly.

The chorus is me asking if we might end up back together at some point. There’s also a rhetorical question—“So why am I so in my head?”—which reflects how even though I’ve experienced heartbreak before, each time feels different. Just because you've been through it once doesn’t make you immune to the pain.

The outro touches on an unhealthy way I used to cope—using alcohol to numb the pain. I’m not proud of that, and I definitely wouldn’t recommend it. There are healthier ways to deal with your emotions, but sometimes the temporary fix feels easier in the moment. That said, this song helped me avoid falling back into a dark place. I’m grateful for it because it reminded me how far I’ve come in my fight against addiction. I quit the other year, and I hope this track helps others realize that recovery is possible and that things do get better.

I knew instantly that Pop Punk was the right genre for this song. That style always brings out the best in my vocals, especially in my original work. The haunting guitars and raw energy of Pop Punk were a perfect match for the song’s gloomy lyrics.

You’ve built a strong following through local gigs and open mic nights in Nottingham. How has performing live shaped your identity as an artist?

Performing live gives me the chance to fully connect with my music and really feel the emotions behind each song. When the audience connects and sings along, there’s a deep sense of acceptance. Writing lyrics is also my way of connecting with people—sharing relatable stories, phrases, and emotions that help others feel seen.

Nottingham is a close-knit city, so being genuine is important—people here can spot inauthenticity straight away. Performing live has helped me open up more. It’s a vulnerable experience to share such personal lyrics in real time, but it’s also helped shape who I am as an artist.

With a new EP on the way this June, what can fans expect from this next chapter? Will we hear more of the Pop Punk energy from In The End or are you mixing it up again?

Life Sucks But So Does Love is very much a follow-up (sequel) to my first EP Welcome To Heartbreak High. Most of the songs lean into my main genre, which is Pop Rap, but there’s definitely some crossover. For example, Love Hurts, Love Kills has a similar energy to In The End, mainly because of the beat.

This project explores a mix of themes—from holiday romances and clubbing on weekends to chasing success, as well as my usual heartbreak-driven lyrics. On Weekend Never Ends, I open up about mental health—how it can feel like the world is against you and how anxiety makes that worse. I also talk about how my stage anxiety affects me and the impact it could have on the people watching.

I don’t want to give too much away because I want the music to speak for itself. But I will say I put a lot of effort into the flows and the verses. I really hope people can feel the growth and connect with this new chapter of my journey.

Life Sucks But So Does Love releases Friday June 6th 2025 at midnight 

(as it turns friday)