Last year, inside Heroine 21, Naomi Scott spoke to Bridgit Mendler about the upcoming release of her debut record. “I’m just in a place where I really love what I’m making and what I want to say,” she said, “whoever it finds and whoever fucks with it, we’ll have a beautiful fun thing between us.” Most audiences know Scott for her acting work, from sugar rush teen fav Lemonade Mouth to the nightmare-inducing Smile 2. But music’s always been an outlet – as a teenager, she was signed and mentored by Kéllé Bryan of Eternal, and she has often showcased her voice on-screen, or even contributed music to films she’s starred in.

In the years since, Scott has privately shaped her sound and voice – including a smattering of releases in the 2010s. But now arrives her fully-fledged debut album, F.I.G. – short for Fall Into Grace. The title carries a double resonance, nodding to Scott’s middle name and signalling the album’s introspective core. Across the record, she draws from influences and references signposting different moments in her life, from the church music she grew up on to the alt-pop that soundtracked her teens. The result is an album that’s as sleek as it is soulful, blending 90s R&B grooves with hazy pop tones. Here, Scott dives deep into the moodpboard behind the record, talking us through the inspirations that guided the work.

Music Video
“I’m such a visual person, so of course I’m obsessed with music videos. A few that I always go back to are: Kylie Minogue’s Come into my world, Blood Orange’s You’re not good enough, Christine and the Queens’ Comme si, and specifically the truck shot in Rosalia’s Malemente video. I love the idea of playing with performance and narrative, what is real, what isn’t. I love it when pop is world-building and not just a visual to go with the music.”

Book
“The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (via the last episode of season one of Master of None). The fig tree excerpt really helped me build a framework on which to build a concept that I was already subconsciously writing into. I describe the album as a fun exploration into different versions of myself, different ‘figs’.”

Film
“In a similar vein, a movie I love and has inspired me is The Worst Person in the World, ironically a Norwegian movie (I recorded a lot of the album in Norway and my producer is Norwegian). I felt a profound connection to the character in that movie. I love how it explored the idea that sometimes making a choice can feel like mourning a path not taken, and how that can feel and be perceived as selfish.”

Album
“The Velvet Rope by Janet Jackson. Honestly…. need I say more? I’m excited for anyone who hasn’t discovered it yet – incredible album.”

Person
“Faye Wong. Most stylish popstar of all time, my north star of style, a rolodex of inspiration.”