Fast-rising North West London alt-pop singer-songwriter Essence Martins returns with “Please, Don’t Wake Me,” a tender, emotionally exposed new single that feels like the beginning of something bigger. Released on March 11, 2026, the track arrives as the first glimpse into a new chapter for an artist who is steadily becoming one of the UK’s most compelling emerging voices.
Built around airy harmonies, acoustic strums and a soft rhythmic pulse, “Please, Don’t Wake Me” captures the uneasy beauty of yearning — that suspended moment where hope, heartbreak and fantasy all blur together. Martins frames the song as both a confession and a plea, exploring what it means to care deeply for someone while recognising the fragility of that connection, particularly through the lens of queer identity and emotional risk.
In her own words, the song lives in the delicate space of a situationship, in that painful tension between what feels real and what you wish could remain untouched. That emotional premise gives the single its quiet power. Rather than overstate its message, Martins leans into restraint, letting vulnerability do the heavy lifting. The result is a track that feels intimate, diaristic and deeply human.
Martins’ story only adds weight to this release. Raised in North West London in a music-loving family, she initially pursued tennis at a high level, even earning a scholarship in the United States, before returning home and choosing songwriting for herself. Since making her debut in 2023, she has built a reputation for emotionally literate, reflective music, releasing projects including Deer In The Headlights and Sleeping On It while drawing attention from artists such as Rachel Chinouriri, Demi Lovato and Jill Scott.
Her ascent on stage has been just as striking. Martins previously performed as part of Birdy’s live band and has gone on to open for artists including Cat Burns, Rachel Chinouriri and Paris Paloma. Now, with “Please, Don’t Wake Me” arriving just ahead of her run as main support for Maisie Peters’ European tour, the timing feels significant: this is not just another single, but a statement of intent.
With “Please, Don’t Wake Me,” Essence Martins is not chasing noise. She is choosing honesty — and in doing so, she sounds more self-assured than ever. It is the kind of release that does not scream for attention, but earns it slowly, through tenderness, clarity and emotional precision. For an artist already trusted by peers and increasingly embraced by listeners, this feels like the start of a defining stretch.
House of Solo Verdict: Essence Martins — “Please, Don’t Wake Me”
“Please, Don’t Wake Me” is a beautifully restrained alt-pop release that proves Essence Martins does not need to oversing or overstate emotion to make an impact.
What makes the track so compelling is its softness. Rather than forcing heartbreak into something dramatic, Essence lets it unfold naturally. Her vocal feels intimate and unguarded, while the production gives the song a dreamy, weightless quality that mirrors its emotional uncertainty.
There is real maturity in the writing here. It understands that yearning can feel tender, awkward, painful and beautiful all at once. That complexity is what gives the song its depth.
Verdict: 8.9/10
A tender, self-assured release that turns vulnerability into strength and confirms Essence Martins as one to watch.
