How a crumbling haunted house became the sound of Holly Humberstone’s new album

Alchemy with Anthony Mason · Nov 11, 2026 · 47m

Holly Humberstone is an impressive young singer-songwriter. I’m a big fan. In 2022, Holly was named “Rising Star” at the BRIT Awards. Her first two albums have gone top five in the U.K. The deluxe version of her latest, Cruel World… So It Ends, drops this week. She’s opened for Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo, and in December will support Gracie Abrams on tour.

0:00 Cold open

0:30 Introduction

1:59 Why Holly was drawn to songwriting

2:39 Growing up as one of four sisters

4:08 A childhood in a crumbling old house

5:05 Mom's piano and her first songs

7:21 The story behind "Haunted House"

9:34…