Absolutely has music in her blood. Having grown up in a family that’s produced three insanely talented artists (her sisters Raye and Amma, and herself, obviously), with her dad teaching her everything she needed to know about music from a young age, Abby told us how it always felt like “music is what I’m supposed to be doing.”
While she first started working in the music industry as a songwriter, providing vocals on tracks for the likes of Tinashe, Normani, and Lisa from BLACKPINK, it didn’t take long for Absolutely to find her own sound, first dropping a series of EPs in 2019 under the alias àB. Now, she’s in her element, releasing her second album “PARACOSM” with a ton of anticipation after a debut album “Cerebrum” that was met with a similar buzz and a ton of acclaim.
We linked up with Absolutely to find out more about “PARACOSM,” her plans for 2026 including opening Reneé Rapp’s Bite Me Tour in Europe and her sister Raye’s This Tour May Contain New Music, and what she’s manifesting rn.
Your entire family is super musically gifted; I know your dad taught you to sing, write, and record. Did you always know you’d go down this path?
“I always had a deep knowing that music was my path, but I got to an age where, I guess I didn’t want to look like I was copying my sister a little bit, so I chose to be a fashion designer. Even now, that’s kind of in tandem with my music, which is really cool. But [eventually] I got to a point where I was like, ‘no, music is what I’m supposed to be doing.’”
If you didn’t make music, what do you think you’d be doing instead?
“Fashion design or maybe some form of creative direction.”
We know you for your own music, but you’ve also leant your vocals to tracks by Tinashe, BLACKPINK’s Lisa, and more. What’s it like working with other artists like that?
“Working with different artists can be easier because I’m not so much in my head, and I’m having somebody else kind of guide the path of the song. Whereas when I’m making my own music, as fun as it is, it can be a lot longer of a process, and I can be in my head a lot more. But it can also be a lot more of a freeing thing. I’m definitely a perfectionist – it’s a blessing and a curse.”
You just performed with the Jonas Brothers back in November when they brought you out as a special guest! What was that like?
“They were all so lovely! Their whole team and crew were so welcoming and, like, overly nice, which was really, really sweet. It was a very surreal moment standing there and looking to my left and right, like, what the heck is going on? It was a beautiful experience overall.”
Your next album “PARACOSM” is coming out soon! Can you explain the inspiration behind it?
“So the title of the album is “PARACOSM”, and paracosms are worlds, characters, fantastical places that you create in your head as a child that extend into your adulthood. I think the process of creating this album was me kind of reintegrating with my childlike wonder and freeing myself from the confines of logic or thinking from an ‘adult perspective’. When you’re a child, you’re not thinking about how somebody is perceiving the stories you create in your head, or perceiving the games that you’re playing. I was kind of embodying that mindset in this album.”
I know you’ve spoken in the past about struggling with nerves when performing live. What’s your best piece of advice to someone who also gets nervous on stage?
“Honestly, just practice. I feel like I couldn’t get over that feeling without just doing it, because the thought of performing sometimes is scarier than actually just being up there. The more you do it, the more you just desensitise your nervous system and realise, ‘oh, this is actually fine. This is not an emergency situation.’”
Next year you’ll be touring Europe with your sisters, Raye and Amma. What’s the dynamic like when you’re on tour together?
“[We’ve not done anything like this before, so] we’re gonna have to find out! But usually Amma — she’s very funny and mischievous — so she’s probably going to be like, pulling a lot of little pranks here and there. And Raye is kind of like motherly, big sister vibes. I don’t know [what will happen], but I’m excited. It’s gonna be really fun.”
I’m obsessed with your style! Who would you say your biggest fashion inspirations are?
“I guess my main inspiration is the movies that I would watch growing up, like these “Alice in Wonderland” type worlds. I love Helena Bonham Carter and Kate Bush. I love Pinterest – it helps me develop my style a lot. And Depop. [Everything I’m wearing right now] is from Depop.”
Are there any designers or brands you’re really into right now?
“Most of the things I wear are thrifted, but I love Margiela – I would love to be dressed in Margiela – Vivienne Westwood, KNWLS, Paulina Russo, Chopova Lowena. Those are my favourite brands.”
Lastly, what vibe are you manifesting for 2026?
“Self confidence and boldness.”
