Terrianne Interview – Y Not Festival – 03/08/2025

It’s always a pleasure to stumble upon real talent. I was definitely stumbling, having slept on a deflated roll mat all weekend, when I entered The Quarry stage at Derbyshire’s Y Not Festival on Sunday. The clouds had only just cleared after a heavy downpour all morning, and a Manc accent echoed from the main stage as Noasis whinnied about ‘sunshyineeee’. The Quarry had held the festival’s BBC Introducing slots, and the weekend’s penultimate show was about to begin.

‘Oh, it’s a long process. I have got a stylist called Elisa, or @sosdresscode on Instagram – she’s amazing. I have to give her a shout out because she has not only styled me, she has helped me to know who I am and what my brand is – that has been like a turning point for me as an artist. She really has done a lot for me. It’s always a process in the outfit. But I think we did, I mean, I think we did good. I mean, it’s crazy right?’

Terrianne’s outfit – an Adidas denim corset and a long pink tutu – certainly made an immediate impression, and from the way she bounded across the stage and belted out her first song, it was obvious that she was used to being a formidably energetic presence. In an interview with Muse after her show, authenticity seemed an important quality for Terrianne: ‘I don’t think I could do it at any other way. I just am how I am, I’m very unfiltered.’

Citing Raye and Self Esteem as recent influences, Terrianne’s discography is an empowering collection of socially aware and acerbic tracks, sweetened by the singer’s powerful vocal ability and charmingly ferocious personality. The London-based singer explained that her songs are written about ‘whatever’s going on at the time.’ 

‘For my first EP, I was navigating being a woman in the music industry, and it was kind of about my frustrations with that. Someone today actually was like, “Oh, whoever he is,” and I was like, actually it’s not about one person, it’s about the music industry. 

‘When I play live, it really inspires me to write more, so I’m definitely ready for more – I’ve got loads of ideas. I need to get in the studio and just let it flow and see what comes out. 

‘But I’m not feeling that anger now towards the industry. Maybe it’s because I’ve started seeing a few things come back, I’m seeing some rewards. I’ve made some changes, like I’ve got an all-female band now. It was really important for me to take that stance and champion women in music. But, yeah, who knows what music is going to come next!’

It can’t be said that Terrianne hasn’t earned her spot on the Y Not stage. Her first EP, Independent and Free, was funded through a £3000 crowdfunding campaign, and she has previously won a competition to give her a slot at the Isle of Wight Festival. The connection to her fanbase is a priority for Terrianne, to the extent of making 500 goodie bags and handing them out before her slot on the Sunday.

‘We met loads of people, and we were like, this is who I am, please come and see my set. You know, it’s my biggest gig yet, I’m trying to pack it out and we met loads of people and connected with them.

‘I’ve got my mailing list. It’s something that I’ve really tried to be on top of this year and just get better at keeping that community up to date, for the people who really care about the whole process. I send out a mailing list every once a month and I’ve got my broadcast channel on Instagram, so that’s once a week. I’m trying to just keep those people who are a bit more invested in one place that I can keep them up to date and let them know what’s going on behind the scenes.’

Towards the end of her set, Terrianne made a confession. Her latest single, ‘Daffodils’, was almost kept off the setlist due to the emotional sensitivity of the song’s meaning to the singer. However, she decided to perform it, leaving some of the audience (my girlfriend) wiping the tears from their eyes.

‘The other songs that I’ve written have come more from like a place of anger. ‘Daffodils’ was heartbreak. It was just a different type of release, and it was definitely the most vulnerable, honest thing that I’ve put out. I wasn’t sure what to expect. I needed to release it anyway just for me. And then actually people pick out different little bits in the song, they’re like, “oh that’s happened to me” or “that reminds me of my nan”, and that’s so special, that sort of connection.’

Having started writing songs when she was twelve, Terrianne knows where she wants to go next. ‘I’d love to do a headline show in a couple of months, like maybe London, Derby, Nottingham. I’d really like to do that. I’d like to actually take this set, my festival set, on a little tour, even the outfits.’ That tour would coincide with the release of Terrianne’s next single, ‘Adulthood’.

‘It’s another poppy one, but it’s slower than my others. It’s about anxiety, when you just worry about stupid sh*t that you don’t need to worry about and you’re like, God, there’s a bigger picture. Like, I’m so lucky, I’m healthy, I’m doing what I love – why am I stressing about being late for this thing?’

I can’t help but agree – there is no need for Terrianne to feel stressed. Her laudable work ethic, ability to connect with fans, impressive voice, attitude-driven lyrics and endearing personality are sure to have caught many an eye at Y Not Festival last weekend, and will continue to do so as Terrianne’s star keeps growing.