Singer describes her first album in seven years as her most “vulnerable” and emotionally raw project yet

Lily Allen Announces Her First Album in Seven Years, “West End Girl,” Calling It Her Most Honest and Vulnerable Work Yet

Lily Allen is officially making her long-awaited return to music. The English singer-songwriter announced that her fifth studio album, West End Girl, will drop this Friday, October 24, marking her first full-length release in seven years. Allen revealed the news on Instagram earlier this week, describing the project as her most emotionally revealing work to date.

“I’m nervous,” Allen admitted in a statement shared with Rolling Stone. “This record feels vulnerable in a way my music hasn’t before — certainly not across an entire album.”

A Record Born from Change and Reflection

Inspired by her years living in New York City, where she relocated in 2020, West End Girl chronicles a period of transformation in Allen’s life. During that time, she married actor David Harbour, but the couple divorced four years later, leading Allen to return to her native London.

“I’ve tried to capture my life in a new city and the experiences that shaped where I am now,” Allen told Rolling Stone. “The songs explore shared human behavior — why we act the way we do — blending fact and fiction in a way that highlights both our strength and fragility. In many ways, this album is about relationships, resilience, and the complex emotions that come with being human.”

The Music

West End Girl features 14 new tracks, created in collaboration with her longtime music director Blue May. The tracklist includes songs with Allen’s signature wit and emotional edge, from the introspective “Ruminating” and “Sleepwalking” to the provocatively titled “Pussy Palace” and “4chan Stan.”

Full Tracklist:

West End Girl

Ruminating

Sleepwalking

Tennis

Madeline

Relapse

Pussy Palace

4chan Stan

Nonmonogamummy

Just Enough

Dallas Major

Beg for Me

Let You W/In

Fruityloop

A Look Back at Lily Allen’s Career

Allen first broke onto the scene in 2006 with her chart-topping debut single “Smile,” which propelled her debut album Alright, Still into critical and commercial success. The record earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Music Album and featured the hits “LDN” and “Alfie.”

Her follow-up albums — It’s Not Me, It’s You (2009), Sheezus (2014), and No Shame (2018) — cemented her reputation as one of Britain’s most fearless pop voices. With songs blending sharp social commentary and personal confession, Allen became known for her ability to balance humor and heartbreak in equal measure.

Beyond her music, Allen has explored acting and television, starring in How to Build a Girl, hosting her talk show Lily Allen and Friends, and earning an Olivier Award nomination for her performance in the West End play 2:22 A Ghost Story.

While Allen’s personal life — from high-profile relationships to candid admissions about her past — has often made headlines, she’s never shied away from transparency. That same honesty now drives West End Girl, a record that promises to mark a bold new chapter for one of pop’s most outspoken artists.