SJ Mortimer Returns with Empowering New Summer Single “Don’t Underestimate Me”
LONDON, UK (July 1, 2026) — Singer-songwriter SJ Mortimer returns July 31 with "Don't Underestimate Me," a rock-driven anthem about self-belief and refusing to let other people's expectations define your path. Inspired by artists such as Brandi Carlile and Sheryl Crow, "Don't Underestimate Me" pairs candid songwriting with gritty rock instrumentation and a message of resilience.
While the first single of Mortimer’s new music, "Late Bloomer," explored the idea of trusting your own timeline, "Don't Underestimate Me" embraces the confidence to keep moving forward despite doubt and outside expectations.
Before launching her new solo career, SJ was the lead singer of UK Americana band Morganway, a BCMA Group of the Year winner and UK Americana Awards nominee known for extensive touring across the UK and Europe, including major festival appearances and BBC Radio 2 support.
Inspired by more than a decade working in the music industry, SJ drew from her experiences of being dismissed or undervalued as a female artist and songwriter. The song reflects years of navigating those challenges and transforms them into a message that extends beyond music, encouraging listeners to trust themselves even when others question their potential.
Recorded at The NuttHouse in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and produced by Sol Philcox-Littlefield, “Don’t Underestimate Me” features driving guitars and one of Mortimer’s most commanding vocal performances to date.
"The song is about refusing to let other people's opinions define what's possible for you," Mortimer said. "I've spent many years in this industry and, like so many women, I've experienced what it feels like to be unfairly criticized or pushed aside.”
The singer-songwriter aims to use her solo platform to champion greater respect and opportunity for women in music, particularly within the folk-rock and Americana communities.
“Don't Underestimate Me" is the second single from SJ Mortimer’s larger solo project coming this fall.
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 will release 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
