New Music Stage Alumni: Meet Daisy Gill
Daisy Gill is a singer-songwriter from Liverpool, whose signature blend of retro pop fuses infectious vintage sounds with contemporary influences. In 2023, her powerhouse vocals and magnetic stage presence earned a rare four-chair turn on The Voice UK. Since then, she’s gathered over 10 million views on TikTok, featured on BBC Radio 6, and performed at Liverpool Pride, Glastonbury and The Royal Albert Hall. We caught up with Daisy to chat about being part of the New Music Stage at Aesthetica Film Festival 2025 and what she’s been up to since her performance.
A: Take us back to the start. How did your musical career begin?
DG: I’ve been musically inclined since I was a young child. I always loved to sing and perform. I began writing songs and performing at local festivals and open mics from around age 12. From then on, I kept growing and developing as an artist. It wasn’t until 2020 that I started to learn how to produce music, I would often go to studios and find I would walk away not fully being able to articulate what I wanted to create. I then released my debut single “Flying High” which was also my first debut as a producer. From then on I really started to experiment and develop my sound and have solidified myself as a pop artist, with a unique tone and distinctive voice that always cuts through my records.
A: Who, or what, are your biggest creative inspirations?
DG: I was really inspired by the songwriting of Amy Winehouse and Alicia Keys growing up. Not necessarily in terms of genre, because I make pop music, but in the emotional honesty they bring to their records. Throughout my journey as an artist I’ve often had comparisons to Amy Winehouse which is an honour and a huge compliment. And while I might not agree, purely because in my eyes nobody can ever come close to Amy, I’m a very direct songwriter. I’m confessional and drawn to telling the truth bluntly, even if it can be messy sometimes. I also love the idea of pop music having “soul.” I don’t mean the genre, I mean the feeling. That emotional delivery has always been important to me and always inspired me.
A: Has the fact that you were born and raised in Liverpool, a city with such a rich musical history, influenced your creative trajectory?
DG: Yes, absolutely, I think growing up in Liverpool really exposed me to live music from a young age. The city has always had strong connections to music. I would watch people perform as a child, for example at Matthew Street Festival (which sadly doesn’t exist anymore) and would be in awe. I always knew I wanted to be involved in music in some way, I just didn’t know how back then.
A: You were part of The Voice UK, earning a rare four-chair turn. What was that experience like?
DG: The Voice UK was truly an unreal experience. I loved every moment of it. I was not expecting to get a Four Chair Turn, it came as a complete shock. I was so nervous for that performance as there was more pressure than a normal live performance as I knew it would be televised for the whole of the UK to view. It was like, “if I mess up, this might end badly” of course that is just nerves talking. When Will.I.Am turns around you can see me put my arm to my chest in relief. I remember thinking “and breathe” and you can see I start to ease into the performance more. I chose Sir Tom Jones as my coach in the end and it was such a pleasure to meet and perform for such a legendary vocalist.
A: You performed on the stage at York Theatre Royal during Aesthetica Film Festival 2025. What was that experience like?
DG: I loved performing at Aesthetica Film Festival, it was really special. The setting itself was beautiful and historic. There was something quite surreal about bringing my music into the theatre as it feels cinematic. It honestly felt like a moment of alignment, being able to perform emotionally driven songs in a space that celebrates art and film. I was so grateful for that opportunity and felt proud of how far I have come on my journey.
A: What excites you most about the UK’s music scene?
DG: The diversity excites me most. The UK music scene currently is so genre fluid. There’s space for so many different sounds to co-exist and it feels like artists aren’t afraid to blend genres or tell really vulnerable stories. There is also a strong grassroots presence in most major cities.
A: How has being part the festival shaped your career going forward?
DG: It felt like a moment of affirmation creatively. It can be so hard to break through and be heard when there’s so many amazing artists competing to be on the same line-ups. You often get faced with a lot of rejection. I was ecstatic when I got the news confirming my slot at the festival.
A: Do you have a particular highlight from your music career so far?
DG: I think for me performing my own songs at The Royal Albert Hall in London will always be a pinch me moment. I’ll never forget it, especially as an unsigned and unmanaged artist, it felt like a dream come true knowing how many legendary artists and musicians have graced that stage.
A: How do you define a great live performance?
DG: For me, being completely moved by a performance is a strong indicator. I want to really feel what an artist is saying wether that’s joy or heartbreak, being able to move an audience is what I defy as a great performance.
A: What’s next for you? Anything for us to look forward to?
DG: 2026 is looking like a jam packed year for me so far. I’ve got a lot of performances confirmed, London shows, BBC introducing showcases, I’ve been confirmed to perform at FOCUS Wales in may. I’m releasing my second EP in the summer and my first single from that project ‘I’m Not Sorry’ is released 20th Feb. I’ve also got a few writing camps confirmed too, so far 2026 is feeling like an exciting year for me!
Words: Emma Jacob & Daisy Gill
Find out more about the New Music Stage at Aesthetica Film Festival: asff.co.uk
