If you have ever found yourself seeking that push to move from heartbreak to bold self-celebration, Abi Muir’s latest single offers a fresh sense of empowerment you will want to experience firsthand. In this candid interview, Abi shares the honest roots of her new track, On One Knee, and discusses her shift from confessional heartbreak anthems to a defiant celebration of personal worth.
She opens up about writing through vulnerability, embracing self-love, and the surprising moments that shape her songwriting. With insight into the making of her new anthem and advice for anyone working through the weight of past relationships, Abi’s openness makes this a must-read for anyone searching for a soundtrack to their own comeback
Your new single On One Knee takes a marked turn from your previous heartbreak anthems towards a far bolder sense of self. What prompted you to move away from those raw themes of heartbreak and step into the unapologetic confidence we hear in this track?
I definitely brought a new energy to the table with On One Knee, it’s sexy and playful, the big sister to my other songs. The narratives of my songs until I released On One Knee has been very ‘woe-me’, but I think my art just reflects my feelings and mind. At this point in my life, for the first time I’m actually confident and proud to be in my own skin. I wanted to put a song out that could help others step into their power and feel like a million bucks! There is definitely more like On One Knee to come, but I wouldn’t say I’ll ever move on from expressing my heartbreaks and sadness through my music because it’s a creative outlet for me. And the goal for my music is just to make people FEEL. Happy or sad, I just want to give them a feeling so they can connect and hopefully give them power in whatever situation they’re dealing with personally.
The lyrics of On One Knee carry a fierce sense of independence and boundary-setting. Can you share a moment or experience that inspired you to write so candidly about reclaiming personal power?
I went through a rough breakup, and this person was really my own friend too so I was completely alone for a year, depressed with unhealthy coping mechanisms. I thought I’d never live or love like a normal person again. But time did in fact heal, and I started to look after myself again. I practiced gratitude, and slowly started reconnecting with friends and my own family again. I wrote On One Knee on a random night almost as a manifesto. I just wanted to sing about something that would make ME feel good. I wasn’t trying to make it complex; I honestly wrote some of the lines as a joke that I thought I’d change later. But I kept everything exactly how it was from the night I wrote it because it was stuck in my head and that was a GREAT THING, because the lyrics were so uplifting and fun.
There’s a magnetic sass running through this single, especially in lines like “If you wanna play games, might let you play with me, but baby, you’ll end up on one knee.” How did you land on that line, and what does it represent to you?
I think the biggest sign of dedication you can receive from a man is him getting down on one knee. The power as a woman in being looked up to and respected in that way is unmatched. I’m saying in the sweetest way possible, “don’t flirt, because I will flirt harder, and then you’ll have no choice but to get on one knee because how will you ever find better?”
You’ve described this single as the end of your heartbreak era. Was there a specific turning point that made you want to close that chapter and embrace this new, more empowered outlook?
To be honest, I healed my heart in real life, so that translated over to my music. I feel all of my emotions very heavily and this era for me happens to be all about feeling good in my own skin and knowing I deserve the best and the best only.
The press release celebrates the track as an anthem for anyone who’s felt underestimated, ghosted, or gaslit. What advice would you offer to listeners currently working through those kinds of experiences, based on your own journey?
I think every woman in the world has been made to feel unworthy or insecure at some point in their life. We all deal constantly with social/beauty standards and how hard it is to just exist as a woman. But I wanted to give the girls something to uplift them instead of focusing on the issue. My best advice is don’t let a relationship isolate you from your friends and don’t settle if your nervous system is constantly triggered by your partner!
With the acoustic set at Stratford Sounds: Live & Local Music Festival on the horizon, how do you approach stripping a powerhouse track like On One Knee back for a more intimate live performance?
I’ve been gigging locally with my partner for the past year, almost every weekend, so we’ve gotten super comfortable ‘acoustic-ifying’ my songs. The next song I plan on releasing is actually our favourite to play, which we’ll also be playing at Narrowtracks, so the audience will be getting a sneaky preview of what’s to come!
Your music flips the script on the idea that vulnerability is a weakness, instead presenting it as a source of strength. Has this ethos influenced other aspects of your life outside of songwriting?
My mindset shifted in real life from victim to in charge of my own life, and I wanted to share that newfound confidence. I’m also a believer that being emotional and vulnerable is actually powerful, and gives others the confidence to do the same. It’s unhealthy to bottle up feelings. And I honestly just can’t keep my feelings to myself; I physically need to share them or I’ll be mentally tormented.
As On One Knee takes its place as a girls’ night out anthem, what do you hope listeners take away from it, especially those still searching for their own sense of worth after heartbreak?
I hope it makes them feel powerful and all the self-love in the world. I hope it’s a reminder that they are the prize and should feel beautiful AT ALL TIMES. A life hack is to listen to On One Knee at least 5 times a day, and sing the lyrics because you’d be surprised how your words can manifest in real life! Feel the power, even if it’s just for the 2 minutes and 30 seconds you’re listening!
Stream Abi Muir’s latest single on Spotify now.
Interview by Amelia Vandergast