The new single from 22-year-old Connie Constance quickly garnered tens of thousands of people listening online.

Let Go, and the adjoining music video, received over 30,000 plays in a week on YouTube and more than 40,000 streams on Spotify.

Connie, who grew up in Watford, won a scholarship for Songtime Theatre Arts in 2007 that was funded by the Watford Observer. 

Last year Connie signed a Record Deal with AMF records and a publishing deal with Kolbalt, and earler in 2017 she performed at AfroPunk Festival at Printworks, Glastonbury and the BBK takeover at the O2 (BBK stands for Boy Better Know, the independent label started by grime artists Jme and Skepta).

Following this Connie, who now lives in Stratford, east London, is set to release an EP of three songs, titled Boring Connie, on November 23. I spoke to her to find out more…

Watford Observer:

Where did you grow up?

I like to think my family is a huge part of the Abbots Langley and Watford Community. I was born and bred in Abbots Langley, studied at Abbots Langley Primary and Kings Langley Secondary School and then went on to college at West Herts in the town. So I hope I am a true representation of what can come out of the Hertfordshire education system.

What music did you grow up listening to?

BritPop, Rock, British Soul and Indie Rock - bands like The Jam, Oasis, Stone Roses, The Smiths, Amy, Adele.

My Grandad played a lot of Reggae and Motown and still does.

Were you always musical as a child?

Always creative, wrote poetry from and young age and was heavily involved in dance.

Was this encouraged at school?

I went to Kings Langley Secondary in Hertfordshire. It was very encouraging for students who were into the arts. 

There was so many opportunities, like Rock Challenge and Caberet which was admired by both students and teachers. The arts education really gave me and plenty of my peers a step ahead in life - for what it feels like to perform, natural highs and what it feels like to be inspired and respected for being inspiring.

It was only a year of two ago that I saw school mate Matthew Johnson and his band the Spitfires open up for Paul Weller. There was music rooms with drums and acoustic guitars and I have fond memories of it being cool to try and learn Oasis songs with a couple of mates.

Describe your music

From the soul, British soul.

Do you play instruments as well as sing?

I write using the keys, but that’s about it.

What inspires you?

General life experiences and whatever’s going on in the world that I have an opinion about.

Tell me about the new single

It’s a jazz/soul alternative song that stems lyrically from a past relationship. I was lucky enough to work with Alfa Mist and Jonny Drop on this song. I’d like to think it is something unique to popular music however not obscure. 

It really speaks on that limbo part of a relationship where you are heavily in love but things have started to get a bit messy emotionally.

What are your hopes for the future?

I’d like to build a big enough fan base so I can go on tour and release a legendary album, at least in my own right.

Anything to add?

I wanted to share this story, as a strong ethos in my work is to inspire young people from all over the world (but more specifically city suburbs and places like Watford), to show that they can achieve what ever they put their mind to no matter what circumstances they grow up in or how many opportunities they are presented with. 

This is something that has kept me pursuing a far out dream throughout my entire life. 

I’m very grateful for the community that I grew up in, being an ethnic minority I often felt as like I was an outsider to our small town, yet support and love was never hard to find in all areas.

Find out more at itsconniesworld.com