Self Esteem: Maggie’s Song
(Polydor)
Dl/Streaming
Out Now
Self Esteem releases new single, Maggie’s Song, taken from the from the acclaimed West End Play, Teeth ‘N’ Smiles which is on at Duke Of York’s Theatre until 6 June.
Rebecca Lucy Taylor will need no introduction to LTW readers. She is one of the UK’s most exciting breakout stars of the past decade since stepping away from the duo Slow Club. Taylor has gone from cult favourite to mainstream hero in the space of five whirlwind years and entered 2026 as a bona fide triple threat in music, literature and acting, recipient of an Ivor Novello Visionary Award in 2025 and nominated for Best Artist at the 2026 BRIT Awards.
Currently treading the boards in Teeth ‘n’ Smiles, she’s making her West End play debut as Maggie Frisby in a revival of David Hare’s 1975 musical. The role of Frisby first being played by Dame Helen Mirren at the Royal Court 50 years ago – is the lead singer of fictional band The Skins. The play takes place over the course of one night in 1969 as they prepare for three shows at a Cambridge University ball. Once the roaring voice of 60s counterculture, now broke and disillusioned, the band’s youthful dreams of anarchic rebellion collapse into bitterness. Amidst the wreckage, lead singer Maggie tears through the night fuelled by booze, fury, and a voice that refuses to die.
Teeth ‘n’ Smiles features original songs by Nick and Tony Bicât, alongside a number of new compositions, including this surprise release, Maggie’s Song, written by Taylor for the revival. Speaking of the track, ‘Writing Maggie’s song was a vital part of the process of ‘Teeth ’n’ Smiles,’ says Taylor. ‘I like to think Maggie would be a big Self Esteem fan. While she spends the play performing songs written by men, here, for the first time she has her voice, uncompromised. It was wonderful to experience that feeling again though the character.’ Hopefully the release of this single signals that there may be a full soundtrack recording on the cards coming too.
This track is recognisably a Self Esteem composition, a reflective track based primarily around Taylor’s vocals and guitar. Maggie’s Song is the first new material since the deluxe edition A Complicated Woman was digitally released featuring reimagined versions of three of its standout tracks, The Deep Blue Okay, The Curse and I Do And I Don’t Care which were stripped-back with arrangements from Tom Foskett-Barnes.
The play, ‘Teeth ‘n’ Smiles’, runs through to 6 June 2026, after which Taylor returns to the stage as Self Esteem for a summer of huge outdoor shows and festival performances, including headline performances at Cardiff Castle and Brighton Pride, and shows with Florence & The Machine and fellow Sheffield legends, Pulp.
Saturday, July 4, 2026 – Reading, England, WASING
Friday, July 10, 2026 – York, England, York Museum Gardens
Saturday, July 11, 2026 – Newcastle, England, Mouth of Tyne Festival
Sunday, July 19, 2026 – Berlin, Germany, Lollapalooza
Friday, July 24, 2026 – Cardiff, Wales, TK Maxx presents Depot Live @ Cardiff Castle
Sunday, July 26, 2026 – Suffolk, England, Latitude
Friday, July 31, 2026 – Dorset, England, Camp Bestival
Saturday, August 1, 2026 – Brighton, England, Brighton Pride
Monday, August 24, 2026 – Edinburgh, Scotland, Summer Series @ Royal Highland Showgrounds (w/ Florence & The Machine)
Friday, August 28, 2026 – Manchester, England, Wythenshawe Park (w/ Pulp)
Visit here for further information and tickets.
Find Self Esteem via Website/Instagram/Facebook/X/TikTok
Photos supplied by Inside Out
All words by Iain Key. See his author profile here or find him via his LinkTree
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