Heidi Boualili Drops ‘City U Took From Me’ Ahead of Debut Album

Southend singer-songwriter and LGBTQ+ artist Heidi Boualili is preparing to release her debut album, What I Didn’t Know Then, arriving May 27th, marking a major milestone in a career shaped by resilience, self-expression, and early musical obsession. The project follows her new single “City U Took From Me”, and reflects a life rooted in working-class experience, creative survival, and a long-standing belief in songwriting as personal release.

Born in London in 2002 to a British mother and Arab father, Boualili moved to the Essex seaside city of Southend-on-Sea during her childhood, where she began developing her artistic identity. Raised on sharp lyricism and storytelling, she gravitated early toward Hip-Hop, citing formative influence from artists such as The Notorious B.I.G., Lauryn Hill, Eminem, and Tupac Shakur. By age nine, she was already writing rap verses over instrumental tracks, developing what would become a core coping mechanism through adolescence.

Her teenage years were marked by severe bullying, which she has openly described as formative and painful, but also central to her development as a writer. During this period, songwriting became a critical outlet, helping her process isolation and identity struggles as an openly LGBTQ+ young person in a challenging school environment. A turning point came when a music teacher recognised her talent and supported her creative direction, leading to her first viral song about bullying at age 12.

Boualili’s early momentum has since translated into independent success, including a growing audience, strong radio support from Jack Saunders and Clara Amfo at BBC Radio 1, as well as media attention from Love Island UK sync exposure. She has also reached notable chart positions, surpassing artists like Ed Sheeran and even charting ahead of influences such as Stevie Wonder in specific genre rankings.With What I Didn’t Know Then, Boualili builds a narrative of transformation, using music as both testimony and release.

Words by Evie White