Looking back at her roots, Newman revealed that Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors” was “the first song that I kind of sung really on a stage and made me feel like I might have a shot at this.” Learning the track with her late aunt, the performance left an indelible mark. “It was the first time I felt a fire in my belly and just so much love and passion for performing,” she shared. Newman also credited Jessie J as “my queen,” noting that Who You Are was “the first album that I bought and this song just really spoke to me.”
A surprising early influence came from television, with Newman admitting, “Hannah Montana was actually the programme that made me love country music.” The genre made a lasting impression, prompting the artist to state, “I will be coming out with my own country album one day, I’ve got to do it. It just makes you feel, I can’t explain it.”
During the broadcast, Newman reunited with close friend Aaron Rowe, recalling that when she first heard his voice, “unbelievable lyrics” and delivery cut through her. “I sob every time, I want to punch him for it,” she joked. The duo discussed utilizing songwriting to process grief. While Rowe recalled writing his first song after being “exposed to all of that madness” of losing a relative, Newman agreed that “pain… put me in that place,” adding, “that’s what music’s for though… it’s healing, so we’re lucky.”
Addressing the scrutiny of her rising career, Newman shared her philosophy on handling online negativity. “I find anyone in my life who I’ve come across who has something to say that’s negative about people, it’s only a reflection of themselves, it’s a mirror,” she observed. “Insecurity is loud and security is quiet… If you know in yourself what is true, their words mean nothing.”
Concluding with advice for young fans navigating adulthood, Newman urged them to embrace unpredictability. “I don’t think you should stress yourself out because life changes a lot,” she advised. “You have to be uncomfortable to find comfortability. Everything will fall into place.”
