Absolutely shares line-up with sisters RAYE and Amma at Reading 2026
The festival circuit, especially for experimental artists, can be a wild, surreal experience. That’s what 22-year-old experimental pop artist Absolutely discovered backstage at the Reading Festival 2026.
Performing on the main stage, an experience she hadn’t anticipated, was described as insane. Growing up closer to London, this was her first major festival foray, and the sheer reaction from the crowd—singing along and looking so happy—was profoundly moving. “I didn’t expect that many people to show up,” she admitted, reflecting on the surreal nature of the moment. “People were singing along and looking so happy. It was really beautiful.”
The excitement only grew when she reflected on the attention she received. After a meet-and-greet, she found fans completely captivated by her world and fashion. Some even created outfits resembling her stage looks, which she found endearing. This positive feedback fueled her creative drive. “It feels like everything I’m doing is not in vain,” Absolutely shared, “It feels like it’s appreciated and understood and people really care about it. It gives me more reason to wanna keep creating.”
This feeling of appreciation ties directly into her eclectic second album, Paracosm, released in February. The album itself was born from a desire to escape logical constraints. Instead of crafting songs based on what she thought people would like, she focused on a different creative landscape. “I was creating from more of a place of, ‘What do I enjoy creating?’ [I was] playing. That was the concept of the album,” she explained.
A particular comment she received on YouTube—that someone called her work Paracosm—struck a chord. For her, the word signified the kind of fantastical worlds and characters that blossom from childhood wonder into adulthood. When she looked back at her creative origins, she noted a freedom she felt as a child: “When I was a child, I wasn’t thinking about anything when I was creating – I was just doing it. I was just playing. There were no boundaries, no rules, no consequences.”
Absolutely’s roots are steeped in musical tradition. Her journey began in a home filled with harmony; her father introduced them to music and taught them songwriting, while her mother provided a backdrop of gospel and church music. It was a legacy of singing that felt entirely natural.
Looking ahead, the energy from the festival has sparked new ambitions. Now, Absolutely is exploring what the next musical world holds, enthusiastically planning an Absolutely tour, and diving into designing more clothes. The experience has served as a powerful reminder that the creative process is about boundless exploration.
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