South London singer-songwriter Persia Holder has today unveiled her new single “Echo”, a raw and emotionally charged pop track that sets the stage for her debut EP I Didn’t Think You’d Hear This, due for release on July 11. The single arrives alongside a music video, offering a poignant glimpse into the vulnerable yet empowering journey that defines her artistry.
“Echo” is a bold declaration of independence and healing, as Persia’s heart-wrenching vocals glide between fragile lows and soaring highs. The song culminates in a cathartic crescendo: “I shouldn’t be mad that you did your worst / Don’t know how it feels ‘cause you’ve never been hurt”, capturing the moment she confronts the pain of a toxic relationship and finds the strength to move forward.
Speaking about the single, Persia says: “‘Echo’ is about realising I don’t need someone else to validate me. It’s about finding my own strength and not wasting time on relationships that don’t contribute positively to my life. Music isn’t just a hobby – it’s my passion and my career.”
Persia’s journey into music hasn’t followed a conventional path. While her friends pursued university, she turned to modelling to fund her dream of making music. Writing became a form of therapy, a way to navigate and articulate the darker corners of her psyche. That introspective process has culminated in her five-track debut EP, a collection of deeply personal songs that includes previously released tracks “Baggage” and “Now Or Never”, as well as two unreleased cuts.
Born to a Scottish-Iranian mother and a Grenadian-Trinidadian father she’s never met, Persia grew up in South London and has faced her share of emotional challenges — including estrangement from her twin sibling. But through it all, music remained her anchor. Influenced by the big voices her mother loved — from Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye to Rihanna and Beyoncé — Persia found early solace in playing the piano, using it as a tool to better understand herself and the emotions that often threatened to overwhelm her.
At just 24, Persia Holder is proving herself as a compelling new voice in UK pop, unafraid to bare her soul in her music. With “Echo” now released and her debut EP on the horizon, she’s carving out a space that’s entirely her own — emotionally honest, beautifully vulnerable, and undeniably powerful.
“I Didn’t Think You’d Hear This” is out July 11. “Echo” is available now on all major streaming platforms.
