Get to Know: Wallis - The Straight-Talking Northern Soul of R&B

Emerging from the quiet industrial town of Barrow-In-Furness and rising onto the stages of major festivals and radio waves, Wallis is one of the UK’s most exciting R&B voices; raw, relatable, and unmistakably real. With sensational vocals, heartfelt songwriting, and a personality that makes you want to grab a pint and hear her stories firsthand, Wallis is fast becoming one to watch.

Wallis’s love affair with music started young - really young. “My parents took me to my first concert when I was 3,” she recalls with a laugh. “It was the Steps Gold Tour. I just remember thinking, ‘That’s what I want to do.’” From that moment, she was hooked. Singing lessons began at four, followed by years in performance groups, leading her to dream of the West End.

By 13, she had packed up small-town life and headed to London, enrolling in both the Sylvia Young Theatre School and The BRIT School - two of the UK’s most prestigious performing arts institutions. But while musical theatre was the initial path, a deeper passion took hold. “Around 19 or 20, I started gigging with bands and fell in love with it,” she says. “I started my artist journey in 2021 and haven’t stopped since.”

Though her early sound leaned pop, Wallis’s soulful voice and storytelling naturally pulled her into the world of R&B. “I’m very influenced by artists like Ariana Grande and The Weeknd,” she says, “but I’m loving the rawer sound of people like SZA and Sasha Keable.” Her music now lives in the space between polished pop and emotionally rich R&B, a blend that captures her truth with a sonic edge.

Thematically, her lyrics pull no punches. “I mainly write about how badly I’ve been treated by men, lol,” she says candidly. “But if my situation can make people relate, I’ll be a happy woman.”

Her creative process is grounded in real-life storytelling. “I always start with what I want the song to be about, normally my tragic dating life, and go from there,” she laughs. With beats provided by her producer, she builds melodies and lyrics that feel like late-night diary entries set to smooth grooves.

One of Wallis’s most defining career moments came in 2023, when she won the Isle of Wight Festival’s New Blood competition. The prize? Performing on the Big Top stage just before major acts like FLO and Example. “Being on the same stage as artists I actually look up to gave me a buzz that I’ve never felt before. It was surreal”

Since then, she’s earned spots on BBC Radio 1Xtra’s WhatsApp Wednesday with DJ Target and was shortlisted out of 5,000 applicants to perform in the Radio 1 Live Lounge, landing in the final 15.

Wallis doesn’t just want fans to love her music; she wants them to know her. “I’ve always said I want fans to think, ‘I’d go down the pub with Wallis, she’s sound,’” she says. “I’d hate to be put on such a pedestal that they don’t see me as a normal human if that makes sense”

That grounded nature resonates with her growing fanbase, something she experienced firsthand after her Isle of Wight set. “I was walking around the festival and these 15 or 16 year-old girls ran up to me screaming, ‘It’s Wallis!’ It was surreal. They asked for a picture and said they loved me. I was bawling!”

Her TikTok presence shows off another side, her uncanny ability to imitate other singers. A video of her impressions racked up over 180,000 views, showing that even behind her own powerful voice, she has a deep understanding of musical styles.

With a new single dropping in June, a sonic shift that she’s especially excited about, Wallis is stepping into a bold new chapter. “I feel like the sound is going exactly in the direction where I want it,” she says. She’s also working with a stylist to refine her image, admitting that it’s a part of her artistry she’s still figuring out. “I know what I want to wear—just don’t know how to make it all work yet!”

One thing’s for sure: Wallis is a force who’s just getting started. Whether she’s belting out heartbreak ballads, cracking jokes about dating disasters, or connecting with fans on TikTok, she does it all with authenticity, charm, and serious talent.

Follow Wallis to keep up with her journey, new releases, and refreshingly real takes on life and love. She might just become your next favourite voice and the mate you wish you had at your local pub.

Connect with Wallis on Spotify, Instagram, and TikTok