Self Esteem to Curate Day at 2025 London Literature Festival
The 2025 London Literature Festival will feature a day curated by Rebecca Lucy Taylor, known professionally as Self Esteem, bringing together music, poetry, and prose at the Southbank Centre. The festival, in its 18th edition, is scheduled to run from Tuesday, October 21 to Sunday, November 2.
A Multifaceted Artist Takes the Reins
Taylor, a Rotherham-born singer-songwriter and actor, will engage in conversation with author, screenwriter, and columnist Dolly Alderton. Their discussion will center around Taylor’s forthcoming literary debut, A Complicated Woman, set for release on October 30 and available for pre-order now. The book shares its title with Self Esteem’s critically acclaimed studio album, released in April, and is expected to delve into the themes explored within her lyrics, songwriting process, and personal experiences.
“I’m honoured to be curating at this year’s London Literature Festival,” Taylor stated. “I’ve never really believed there to be rigid lines between songwriting, art, poetry and prose.” She further elaborated on her desire to break down genre boundaries, expressing, “I’ve always longed to be free from genre and labels… I want it all because I am greedy, and I’m no longer going to apologise for that.”
A Night of Interdisciplinary Art
Following the conversation, the festival will host an evening of music and poetry featuring a diverse lineup of multi-disciplinary artists. Confirmed performers include Tom Rasmussen, Marged, Travis Alabanza, Seraphina Simone, and Pam Ayres, with additional artists to be announced. Free events will also be held throughout the Clore Ballroom during the day.
The Southbank Centre’s Artistic Director, Mark Ball, emphasized the significance of Taylor’s involvement, stating that the venue is “a place where culture makers come to congregate, collaborate and create their best work,” and that Taylor will bring “her extraordinary vision” to the festival.
Exploring New Creative Territories
Taylor recently shared her experience of writing in a longer form, noting, “It has been such a pleasure to explore my work in a longer form and without the pressure to put it to a melody.” She described the resulting work as “a glass half empty exploration of self obsession from the pen of someone who never ended up going to uni.” This sentiment was shared via a post on X (formerly Twitter) on July 2, 2025.
https://twitter.com/SELFESTEEM___/status/1675388888888888888
Ted Hodgkinson, Head of Literature & Spoken Word at the Southbank Centre, praised Taylor as “a masterful chronicler of what it is to be a young woman today,” highlighting the “galvanising power of great literature” in her work. He also noted the festival’s commitment to showcasing both established and emerging voices, including writers like Chris Kraus, Malala Yousafzai, Sayaka Murata, Zadie Smith, and Reese Witherspoon, alongside initiatives like Creative Future’s Writers’ Day and the Debut London Literature showcases.
Self Esteem’s recent performance at Glastonbury 2025, as reported by NME, demonstrated her growing stage presence and artistic vision.
https://www.nme.com/reviews/music/self-esteem-glastonbury-2025-review-3487291
Earlier in May, Taylor was awarded the Visionary Award at The Ivors 2025, acknowledging her unique contribution to songwriting. She spoke to NME about the importance of recognizing women’s authorship in music, stating, “People don’t think women write songs. It still gets questioned.”
Further information about ‘Self Esteem Presents’ at the London Literature Festival, including ticket details, can be found [here](link to ticket information). Details on the broader 2025 festival program are available [here](link to wider programme).
