Naomi Scott was always meant to be a musician. Growing up in the suburbs of east London, she would sing in her local church choir in the afternoons, then explore her dad’s Windows Media Player playlists at night, discovering Janet Jackson and Kate Bush. At 14, she was noticed by Kéllé Bryan, formerly of Eternal, and spent her mid-teens writing music at home, aiming to become a singer in her own right. She even went to songwriting sessions with the powerhouse British pop team Xenomania.

The only catch? After going to a few acting auditions, mostly just for fun, she somehow ended up with a film career. (If Scott looks familiar—and you can see past her current shaggy bob dyed a burnt pink shade—you’ll know that detour led her to star as Princess Jasmine in the 2019 blockbuster live-action Aladdin and a troubled pop star in the 2024 horror Smile 2.) Then, a few years ago, she went through what she calls a “quarter-life identity crisis,” which pushed her to stay home in London and start writing songs again on her piano.

“I really felt like a girl in process—I still feel like one—and that became my motto for the project, philosophically and practically,” says Scott, speaking from Los Angeles, where she’s starting her first solo headlining tour. “I want people to see the process.”

The result is her impressive first full-length album, F.I.G, released in March. If you need more proof that Scott was always meant to be a musician, just give it a listen. It has the sonic hallmarks of a debut album, mixing genres like R&B, alternative pop, soul, funk, and plenty of ‘80s beats. But this sound shows off her great taste: a touch of Janet Jackson on the clattering groove of “Rhythm” and the sweet layered vocals (and steamy spoken word asides) of “Cherry”; shades of Prince on the punchy guitar riffs and swelling synths of “Losing You” and “Gracie”; a hint of Solange in the fluttering vocals of the lovelorn “Bliss” and the jazzy “Best Kind.” (Former Solange collaborator Dev Hynes is a close friend and mentor of Scott’s, and shares production credits on “Cut Me Loose.”)

It’s also a remarkably cohesive (and, at 29 minutes, concise) statement of purpose, immediately establishing Scott’s own distinct musical identity. For a self-described “girl in process,” it feels fully formed. (The title stands for “fall into grace,” referring to her journey of self-acceptance as she dove back into music, and nods to Sylvia Plath’s metaphor in The Bell Jar of a fig tree representing multiple possible futures—let’s hope a music career is the fruit she picks.)

And while F.I.G didn’t make a huge splash right away, over the months since, Scott’s audience has grown quickly through word of mouth as fans praise it on social media.

“It’s just a wonderful feeling,” Scott says of the response. “Honestly, I’m signed to an independent label, so there’s no big cash injection or tons of marketing money. But I felt so confident that the music would speak for itself and that the right people would find it, that I wasn’t too worried about pushing everything upfront or trying to capitalize on one big moment. I truly believe that once it’s out in the world, it’s there forever to be discovered.”

Photo: Eloise Parry

The album has also been boosted by Scott’s impressively DIY approach to building a visual world around it. The music videos—made with her creative director, Katharina Korbjuhn—capture a very specific, unpolished, slice-of-life feel. “There’s something beautiful about working with limited resources,” she says.Scott says, “I don’t think money equals creativity. It just doesn’t.”

Take the fun, self-made video for “Cherry,” for example. In it, Scott dances on a soccer field with a women’s team, wearing a vintage Vivienne Westwood button-up hoodie, gray sweatpants, and a few stick-on crystals on her eyelids. It captures her unique, sophisticated style. “I wanted it to feel natural, sexy, British, girly, inclusive, and fun,” she says, adding that it was partly inspired by her love for Bend It Like Beckham. As for the lively dance moves in the video? “I can’t spend 50 or 100K on a music video right now, but I still wanted that pop star energy,” she says with a laugh.

You can feel that pop star energy in the video for “Gracie” too, which she co-directed with her husband, former pro soccer player Jordan Spence. In it, she struts down an east London street in a leather trench coat and pink gloves, dancing freely as amused passersby watch. “We didn’t have the budget to close off the street, so people were watching, but that adds to the energy,” Scott says cheerfully. “I love those imperfections, and they only happen when you go with the flow.”

That attitude will carry over to her live shows. After a seven-city, seven-date U.S. tour, she’ll play European festivals this summer, then join Jessie Ware—another friend and mentor—as a supporting act for her U.K. arena tour. Scott is keeping her live setup simple: one backing musician on guitar, another on bass and synths. “For where I am right now, it feels right to just have these two parts,” she says. She won’t do elaborate new arrangements or reinvent the songs from F.I.G—after all, it’s her first tour. “This is the first time I’ll sing this album live, so I don’t want to stray too far from it,” she explains. “I just want to give people the feeling of listening to the album, but live.” She’ll also include a cover of New Edition’s R&B classic “Can You Stand the Rain” and a mash-up of her song “Bound” with Anita Baker’s “Sweet Love.” (Told you she has great taste.)

Where she will get more playful is in the visual presentation. “Listen, without giving too much away… there will be a few little surprises,” she says, laughing again. There will be a dance break or two—“not super choreographed, but movement is really important,” she notes—and clothes racks on either side of the stage for quick outfit changes during the show. (Remember, she’s a work in progress.)

“I’ll still be in my base outfit: my tracksuit, knee pads, heel pumps, and bra,” she explains, but with some extra touches like the trench coat and gloves from the “Gracie” video. She mixes pieces from her own wardrobe with designer looks borrowed from brands she and her regular stylists, Taylor Thoroski and Hamish Wirgman, have come to love, like the quirky London favorite Talia Byre. “You know how people say on their wedding day they still want to look like themselves? It’s a bit like that,” she says of her approach to performance wear.

Scott on the set of her “Call For Me” video, filmed at her parents’ church hall.
Photo: Courtesy of Naomi Scott

Really, that’s the heart of Scott’s appeal as an artist—she wears her influences openly, but knows how to blend them into something that feels truly her own. So it makes sense that the most excitingPart of her journey so far has been realizing that her instincts were right: there really are audiences out there who share her taste and fully understand what she was trying to do with the album.

“It’s just amazing when you see other people feeling the same way about your work as you do,” she says, clearly delighted. “And what a beautiful way to see who truly connects with it—when they’re the ones telling others about it. For me, that’s far more powerful than playing a numbers game. That’s never been what drives me.”

Instead, what drives her—at least for now—is simply to keep experimenting; to remain, through it all, a “girl in process,” even if it looks from the outside like she knows exactly what she’s doing. “I’m still that girl,” she says with a smile. “I’m still trying different things. I’m still very much figuring it out.”

Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of frequently asked questions about Naomi Scotts album and tour written in a natural tone with clear concise answers

General Album Questions

Q What is this new album everyone is talking about
A Its Naomi Scotts latest album which critics are calling the most stylish release of the year It blends pop with retro influences and has a very distinct visual and fashionforward theme

Q What makes the album stylish Is it just about the clothes
A Its more than just fashion The style refers to the whole vibe the albums cover art the music videos the songwriting and the overall aesthetic It feels like a complete cohesive work of art

Q What kind of music is on the album
A Its a mix of synthpop modern RB and dance beats Think of it as moody cinematic pop with a lot of energy

Q Is this her first album
A No but its her most successful and critically acclaimed project to date Its seen as a major artistic leap forward for her

Q Where can I listen to the album
A Its available on all major streaming platforms like Spotify Apple Music and Amazon Music as well as for purchase on CD and vinyl

Tour Tickets

Q Is she really going on tour for this album
A Yes She announced a tour to bring the albums unique style and energy to live audiences

Q Where can I buy tickets
A Tickets are available through her official website and major ticket sellers like Ticketmaster Check her social media for direct links

Q How much do tickets cost
A Prices vary by city and venue but expect a range from around 40 for general admission to 150 for VIP packages or premium seats

Q When do tickets go on sale
A There will be a presale for fan club members and newsletter subscribers followed by a general public sale Check her official channels for exact dates

Q Will the tour have the same stylish vibe as the album