Holly Nicholson Unveils "i forget we’re friends": A Raw, Emotional Step Forward in UK Pop

Holly Nicholson continues to carve out her place as one of the UK’s most exciting emerging pop artists, and her latest single, i forget we’re friends, marks a clear step forward in both sound and confidence.

Raised on bright 80s melodies and shaped by the bold honesty of today’s unflinching pop storytellers, Holly has been steadily building a loyal and growing fanbase. Blending heartfelt sentiment with a fearless emotional edge, the Northern artist has become known for pairing honest songwriting with a punchy, guitar-led sound. With her sights now set beyond the UK, she is laying the groundwork for her sophomore EP and pushing towards wider international recognition.

i forget we’re friends is her most anticipated release so far. The track channels the ache of forbidden love through tormented vocals, blistering synths, powerful guitars and a driving bassline. Drawing on the familiar friends-to-lovers idea, the song explores the tension of wanting someone you cannot have, balancing desire and restraint in a way that feels deeply personal while remaining universally relatable.

Already a fan favourite at sell-out shows and across a UK tour, i forget we’re friends introduces listeners to Holly’s raw pop-rock edge and unfiltered vulnerability. Angsty guitars sit beneath visceral vocals, creating a sound that feels urgent and emotionally exposed, and capturing the intensity she brings to her live performances.

Speaking about the song, Holly explains that it came together in one intense, uninterrupted thirty-minute writing session. She describes slipping into a completely uninhibited headspace, where the lyrics and emotions poured out in messy, overwhelming waves of unrequited love and emotional chaos. At its heart, the song is about falling for someone who feels so right emotionally but so wrong in reality. It is about being caught in a situation where there is too much to lose, leaving feelings unspoken and unresolved. That quiet, isolating ache is what sits at the centre of the track, and writing it became a genuinely cathartic release.

Holly often describes her music as “pop music with a little bit of edge”. For her, that edge exists in two ways. Sonically, it comes from the guitar tones and rock influences she grew up loving. Lyrically, it comes from the honesty she leads with in her songwriting. Raised on 80s music, she blends those influences with the openness and emotional boldness of modern artists like Olivia Rodrigo, allowing her to be more vulnerable and more direct. With i forget we’re friends, she feels she is moving closer to a sound that truly feels like her own, one with more grit, truth and emotional weight.

As Holly Nicholson steps into this next chapter, i forget we’re friends feels like more than just another single. It sets the tone for a bolder creative direction, capturing the tension of love, longing and restraint with striking clarity. Turning emotional messiness into something powerful, the track stands as a clear statement of intent. Looking ahead to 2026, Holly Nicholson is shaping a sound defined by honesty and edge, firmly placing herself among the UK’s most promising new pop voices.