SJ Mortimer Reclaims Her Power on Defiant New Single “Numb”
LONDON, UK (August 14, 2026) — UK singer-songwriter SJ Mortimer returns September 11 with “Numb,” a powerful and deeply personal anthem that explores burnout, self-worth and the pressure women face to shrink themselves in order to fit expectations. With an upcoming tour and UK radio support, the single arrives as the final teaser to Mortimer’s new EP out this fall.
Originally conceived by Mortimer as a sparse folk ballad built around the early ideas for its chorus, “Numb” found its true direction during a Nashville co-writing session with songwriter Justyna Kelley. The pair transformed the idea into one of the most ambitious and emotionally charged tracks of Mortimer’s solo career.
“‘Numb’ feels like the big song of this project for me,” Mortimer said. “It has the strongest emotional weight and the most fire behind it, and it represents a side of me that I really wanted to bring out through this new chapter of my solo music.”
The song was born from conversations about the realities of womanhood, including the expectations, pressures and constant scrutiny many women experience. Drawing from their own lives, Mortimer and Kelley crafted a song that balances frustration and vulnerability with a sense of empowerment and defiance.
One lyric in particular solidifies the song’s message: “I’m proud to be a woman, but it’s a fight to be one.” The line carries a double meaning, reflecting both the ongoing challenges women face and the strength required to overcome them.
Once the song’s message became clear, Mortimer knew the production needed to match its emotional intensity. “I realized this couldn’t stay in a vulnerable ballad space,” she said. “The lyrics were demanding something more powerful.”
Just two days after writing the song in Nashville, Mortimer brought “Numb” to producer Sol Philcox-Littlefield at The Nutthouse Studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The pair recorded the track in a single day, capturing all instrumentation and vocals during a session Mortimer describes as one of the most memorable of her career. “Vocally, I pushed myself harder than I even realized I could,” she said. “I call it my ‘vocal Olympics’ session because I gave the song absolutely everything I had.”
The track was further elevated when pianist Austin Motlow recorded piano at Sun Drop Sound, the Muscle Shoals studio founded by John Paul White. The final mix was completed in the UK by acclaimed producer and engineer Ash Howes, whose credits include One Direction, Ellie Goulding, Kylie Minogue, Little Mix, and Thomas Rhett.
The result is a bold, dynamic recording that blends Mortimer’s roots-driven songwriting with a larger, more expansive sound. For Mortimer, however, the heart of “Numb” lies in its message. “There’s anger and frustration in this song, but there’s also freedom,” she said. “It’s about reaching a point where you stop apologizing for who you are. I’m incredibly proud of this song, and I’m very excited to finally put it out into the world.”
Cover art for “Numb” / Photography by Michelle Fredericks
“Numb” will be officially released September 11.
MORE ABOUT SJ MORTIMER:
Part angel. Part banshee. All fire.
SJ Mortimer is not your typical singer-songwriter.
With a voice that can whisper like smoke and roar like thunder, SJ has built a reputation as one of the most compelling frontwomen in modern UK Americana rock. As the lead singer and songwriter of Morganway, she commands stages with raw power, emotional honesty and a magnetic presence that has seen her compared to Stevie Nicks, Janis Joplin and even a female-fronted Zeppelin.
From recording her debut album Nashville Sessions in Tennessee to touring across the UK, Europe, the US and China, SJ’s journey has been defined by fearless creativity and a refusal to be boxed in. Her songwriting moves effortlessly between grit and grace, heartache and defiance, country storytelling and soul-drenched rock.
With charting albums, major festival stages, international tours and four-time BCMA Band of the Year awards with Morganway, SJ now stands on the edge of a bold new chapter.
In 2026, SJ is releasing her most powerful and personal solo work to date—recorded in Muscle Shoals, featuring co-writes with Grammy-nominated Nashville writers, rooted in country, folk and soul. Written with a new level of truth, depth and fire, this is the sound of SJ Mortimer at her most open, honest and fearless.
Connect with SJ Mortimer: Website | Instagram | TikTok | Spotify
Press contact: Maria Herrera | maria@evergreenent.com
