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If you don’t know Absolutely, you are about to get know her really really well well. With an impending Reneé Rapp support, a viral smash in the bag, and one building with this latest release, Absolutely has that terrifically tangible appeal that pops both visually and sonically. Bolstered by stunning art direction, Absolutely has a vision that suggests stardom, but it's her dynamic, distinct voice that leaps off of tracks with ethereal purpose, pulling you into a satiated dream state that few artists can concoct. Per usual, our curiosity could not be contained, and we had the wonderful privilege of grabbing Absolutely on a Hollywood balcony for an interview, and that world building creativity extended even to our interview here:

OnesToWatch: First question I always ask is, why are you an artist? 

Absolutely: That is a good question. I feel like music has always just been second nature to me. It's more of a state of being rather than it’s something I do. 

Wow, very poetic. 

Thank you. I couldn't see myself doing anything other than music. 

If you weren't doing music, is there anything you could imagine yourself doing? 


Probably something in fashion. Maybe I’d be a designer. I actually designed my looks for tour, which was really cool. I didn’t make the clothes, but I sketched them up. 


That's super cool. What were the looks and what were you going for? What was the inspiration for it all? 


So, I designed five looks. My dad actually was the one to remind me that I would design dresses when I was younger, and he suggested that I design all of my looks instead of having someone else do it. So we reached out to a seamstress. But, otherwise, I didn't really think about it. I just drew and colored, and somehow they came out amazing. So I think I'm gonna keep doing that now. 

Was that the first time you had created your own look?

First time. 

Well, congrats. You already helped me answer this, but does your family support you throughout your music career?

My family is so supportive. I have three sisters, and my dad actually taught us how to write music and produce and record ourselves. 
We started singing in church and with him playing the piano. My dad manages us, and my mom is also on the management team, so it's like a big family affair. 


Of the sisters, who's the most talented? 

I cannot do that. Nice try. 

I can't create some family friction. Let's get into your writing process. How long have you been writing songs with the intention of performing them for other people? 

So I first started creating songs when I was around 12 or 13. But I guess that wasn't with the intention of releasing them.
I just had so much fun doing it. Yeah. Every day after school I’d make a little beat and then record myself freestyling and then make a song. I did that every day until about 15, I think. I released some songs around then that I don’t like. 

But you were 15, come on. 

I know. I know. So, I released songs then and continued writing, and it became a professional thing when I signed a publishing deal when I was 17, at the end of lockdown. I did a bunch of Zoom sessions with people in L.A., so that was like really the door opening up for me. I did maybe 100 Zoom sessions during lock-up.
I was working hard. But it helped me learn how to engineer myself. 

I love that. I'm going to dive a little bit more into your process, but I have to ask, when you were coming home and freestyling, who was your inspiration? Who were you trying to sound like? 

I used to love Ariana Grande. She was my favorite. I loved stacking my vocals like her. Generally, it was whatever I was listening to, though. 


Now that it’s post-Zoom songwriting sessions, do you have a standard writing process? Do you have a way you’re most comfortable writing? 

My creative process has evolved a lot in the past few years, but my default would be to receive an instrumental, then jump on the mic and freestyle. I’ll lay down some vocal pads or background vocals to get myself in the world, then freestyle melodies. Nowadays, though, an intention on the song, or a concept. And then I build from there, which makes the process a lot more slow and definitely produces less songs. But the songs are more intentional and deep

I don’t often hear about people pivoting from freestyling to concept-based writing. I can't wait to hear more. Obviously, we're here because you wrote what is considered a viral hit, so congratulations. That's tough to do. It’s called, “I just don't know you yet.” What is the song about? 


So, I wrote this song about two years ago. At the time I had a really heavy feeling in my heart about my future partner. It was really random and spiritual. I felt like this connection to him without knowing who he was or why, but I just felt like I should pray for him. So I was praying for him at this time. And I had this amazing instrumental from the producer called Dave Hamelin, who produced the track. And it just matched perfectly with these emotions. So I went into the studio and these words just flowed out of me. It was effortless and just the truth, like I was just talking; I wasn't trying to make something clever or unique. I was just speaking what my heart needed to say. 


That's so beautiful. 

Thank you. It was all a big surprise. I was intending to release the song just before the album dropped, so maybe early next year. But I sang it on tour and the reaction was crazy, so I had no other choice but to just drop the song. 

You got to give the people what they want. 

Exactly. 

I love that. So did it manifest? Did that all come true? 

Yes. 

That's amazing. Has something similar happened since then? Having this belief that something was predestined, then it actualizes? 

I guess it happens on different scales all the time. 

You must have an antenna open for the spiritual wavelengths that are bouncing around the world. 

I have a good relationship with God, so I'm always seeking guidance. 

Love the outlook. Well, you mentioned an album is in the works for release top of next year. 

Yes, maybe even before that. The songs are all done, now it's just mixing, mastering and finishing details.
So it's very close to done. 

What does this album encapsulate for you? How many songs is it, and over what time period does it represent for you? 

I'm still deciding how many songs. 
I think it would likely be 13. 

Okay. That's a lot. 


I have so many songs and it was really hard to decide. 

What is your process for cutting songs out of the album? 

I’m definitely still navigating that. We've tried a voting system with a whole Excel chart and people vote… that was my dad. He's very like that. 


That's a very dad way of doing it, for sure. 

I've played it to a bunch of friends and got their opinions, too. But it's definitely been tough trying to silence all the other opinions and figure out what my own opinion on the songs are. Now, I’m going off of the feelings I have that still resonate with the songs. 

Thematically, what does it represent for you? 

There’s a bit about reigniting my childlike wonder. 

What a beautiful thought. 

I feel that as I've gone through this album, I’ve evolved. The beginning of the process was me trying so hard for it to be something profound or unique. Through that, I forgot that I'm supposed to be having fun, and mess up and not be perfect. A lot of the lyrics speak to that freedom, letting go and trusting the process and actually enjoying the process, which I forget to do sometimes. It’s also very cinematic sounding – there are some songs on there that are very Tim Burton-inspired. I love fantasy, Tim Burton’s worlds, especially Coraline.

Favorite Tim Burton movie? 


Alice In Wonderland. 

That's always a good answer. If your family all suddenly appeared in dire need of food, what meal would you whip up for them?

I could whip them up a very small selection of meals. 

Are you good at cooking?

I'm good at eating the food, but not cooking. But I would make spaghetti Bolognese. 

Do you have a place you would go to take them to eat? 

If we were in London, I would say this place is called Dishum. Have you been there? 

I have not. 

So good. It's Indian food, and it is so good. 

That's a great rec. What do you do when you need some time to clear your mind, give yourself peace? 

I love knitting. I've been obsessed with it. It's so therapeutic, you can just space out and put a movie on. 

How good are you at knitting? 

I'm pretty good. I've been making some bags. 

That is super impressive. I envy that kind of skill set.
If you could perform with anyone, at any time, with whom and where would you perform? There are no restrictions, you have a time machine, you can bring people back to life. 

I would say Imogen Heap at the Sphere. 


Wow. That's something I would go to. Do you have anything that you insist people do? Whether it's good habits, something to read, something to watch, somewhere to go? 

I would say what's helped me a lot in my creative process is finding another creative outlet that doesn't have anything to do with what you do. It has helped me a lot to just stop focusing on the result of what I'm creating and to enjoy the process. Knitting or drawing and painting. 

That's super wise. You got to have a side quest. Last question – at OnesToWatch, we love when artists put us on to other artists. So is there anyone you’re especially excited about right now that you’d like to shout out? 

Have you heard of Oklou? 

Yes, so cool. Anything else you’d like to share? Advice, wisdom, shout out, quotations? 

I'll say allow yourself to be cringe. 

That really says a lot about you. Thank you so much for your time and continued success. 

Thank you so much. 

Absolutely / Renee Rapp 2026 European Tour Dates:

3/11 – Antwerp, Belgium @ Lotto Arena

3/12 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ AFAS Live

3/13 – Berlin, Germany @ Uber Eats Music Hall

3/15 – Cologne, Germany @ Palladium

3/16 – Paris, France @ Zenith

3/18 – Manchester, UK @ AO Arena

3/19 – London, UK @ OVO Wembley Arena