Start Listening To: Reem Mitten

A reflective songwriter from North West London, Reem Mitten turns quiet emotions and forgotten ideas into songs that feel both intimate and unshakeably real.

Reem Mitten doesn’t overthink it. The North West London artist writes songs that live in the in-between: tender but detached, simple yet quietly cinematic. Her new single, ‘What The Hell,’ revisits an earlier chapter in her songwriting journey, pairing understated melodies with the emotional ambiguity that has become her signature. Drawing on a background that bridges Moroccan and Irish heritage and working closely with producer Dave MacCracken, Reem’s approach feels instinctive and unguarded. It is the kind of music that finds its truth through imperfection. We caught up with her to talk about rediscovering old songs, learning to trust the process, and the small, surprising moments that make it all worthwhile.

For those unfamiliar with your music, can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make?

Hi, my name’s Reem Mitten (yes, that’s my full legal name). It’s always a fun conversation starter as most people assume it’s only my artist name. I grew up in northwest London with a Moroccan mother, an Irish father, and three siblings, so it was definitely a full and full-on house. When it comes to the music, to be honest, I’m still figuring that out myself. Right now, I’d probably describe it as bedroom artist / singer-songwriter vibes.

How did your personal experiences influence the writing of 'What The Hell' compared to your previous single, 'Back To The Start Of It'? 

I like to see “What the Hell” as the little sister to “Back to the Start of it”. They were both written around the same time, when I was just starting to find my footing with music. They’re both written from a voyeuristic point of view, so nothing really personal influenced those two particular songs. However it was a period where I was feeling a lot but didn’t quite know how to express or place it all yet. BBTSOI would be the anger - and WTH the start of the end.

Can you describe the songwriting process for 'What The Hell'?

“What the Hell” actually started off as two separate songs. Around that time, I’d started working with the wonderful Dave MacCracken, and we began piecing things together like a jigsaw puzzle. We worked off little voice notes, and one thing Dave would always say during sessions was, “What’s the story?” , which really pushed me to think deeper and stay focused while writing. We first laid down the foundation of the song back in 2022, but ended up revisiting it in 2025 when we stumbled across a version we’d completely forgotten about. It was exciting to rediscover it after letting it sit for so long.

Were there any specific moments or inspirations that shaped the final track?

There were two moments that really brought the song together. The first was getting to the middle 8, it lifted the whole track. Dave shaped that beautifully on the Wurlitzer, and the lyrics for that section just seemed to fall out naturally. That’s when I thought, okay, we’ve got a song here. Then we brought Thomas Fiquet in to lay down some guitar. One of the inspirations there being Jeff Buckley’s “Lover, You Should’ve Come Over.” And that was it. Simple and sweet, the song was done.

What do you want listeners to feel when they hear the hook, 'What the hell, maybe we’re out of love'?

I’d hope that when people hear the song, they see themselves in it. Maybe it brings up a memory, a time or place where they felt something similar. It’s such a hard question to ask, of yourself or someone else. When I write, I try to come at it from a more objective place. It’s not really about me, I’m not trying to put myself at the centre. I just want people to connect with the song in their own way, to find a piece of themselves in it.

How do your Moroccan and Irish roots manifest in your music?

I don't think it really shows up in my music, maybe time will tell. I do come from a lineage of Moroccan women who sing, so there’s probably a bit of pressure there. Though I know it’s pressure I mostly put on myself. My grandmother, Bahija Idriss, was a traditional singer, and my mum, Douaa, had a short-lived music career. One of her recordings, “Haditouni,” was recently released by Habibi Funk, which was a really moment!

Are there any visual elements or themes in your upcoming music video for 'What The Hell' that you’re particularly excited about?

The common visual theme across most of my music so far has been black and white. I’m drawn to the simplicity, the stillness, and how much emotion it can hold without distraction. It lets the music lead. I’m actually still waiting to see the final cut of the video as we speak, so that’s what I’m most excited about right now, to see how it’s all come together.

How do you approach the balance between vulnerability and strength in your lyrics, especially in emotionally charged songs?

Honestly, I think the song kind of decides for itself. It takes its own direction, and I just go with it. Ironically, for the kind of music I make, I actually find it quite hard to be fully vulnerable. There are a few songs where I’ve let that guard down, and hopefully they’ll be heard in the near future. When I write, I usually take a feeling and turn it into a sort of fantasy, as a way to escape or soften it. Right now, songwriting is like my emotional blender. The way I really felt gets hidden inside the story, processed into something else.

As an emerging artist, how do you engage with your community, and what impact do you hope to have on it?

As an individual, I struggle with social media in general, so when it comes to that front, it's a difficult place for me to engage. Trying to be better at it though! I started off by going to open mics at places like Map Studio Cafe, to face my fear of singing in front of people, as it had always been a bit of a hidden hobby of mine. I suppose it’s where I’ve first found a sense of community through my music. Before that, I struggled to put myself out there and I was quite a loner. So I hope my music can do for others what it’s done for me — help them feel less alone.

What can fans expect from your live shows, especially with the new single on the horizon?

So far, I’ve been experimenting with different live setups. One night it might just be me on piano, and another Tom will join me on guitar. Sometimes a drum machine and bass… It changes all the time. I’m finally at a point where I’m playing regularly with a full band though, which feels really exciting and supportive. But I still have stage fright, so a lot of shyness to be expected, and funny one-liners to try and break it.

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve discovered about yourself through the process of creating your music?

That I can do a lot more than I ever thought I was capable of. Working with Dave really pushed me, and it completely changed how I viewed songwriting. I’m quite dyslexic, and growing up that was a big insecurity for me. I loved words and writing but always struggled with how to put things together.

What do you love right now?

Anime, always.

What do you hate right now?

The impact social media has on music.

Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s still important to you?

Now, Now - "Threads" It reminds me of my best friend and teenage nostalgia.

When someone hears your music for the first time, what do you hope sticks with them?

The feeling that they can see themselves in the song.