Having heard SJ Mortimer live with Morganway, I admit that I was really excited to have a listen to her first single from the new EP. There may be grey skies overhead tonight, a distinct chill in the air, but I am expecting the speakers to glow with heat as this one hits the room.
First off, the press release:
Press:
“LONDON, UK (August 14, 2026) — UK singer-songwriter SJ Mortimer returns September 11 with “Numb,” a powerful and deeply personal anthem that explores burnout, self-worth and the pressure women face to shrink themselves to fit expectations. With an upcoming tour and UK radio support, the single arrives as the final teaser to Mortimer’s new EP out this fall.
Originally conceived by Mortimer as a sparse folk ballad built around the early ideas for its chorus, “Numb” found its true direction during a Nashville co-writing session with songwriter Justyna Kelley. The pair transformed the idea into one of the most ambitious and emotionally charged tracks of Mortimer’s solo career.
“‘Numb’ feels like the big song of this project for me,” Mortimer said. “It has the strongest emotional weight and the most fire behind it, and it represents a side of me that I really wanted to bring out through this new chapter of my solo music.”
The song was born from conversations about the realities of womanhood, including the expectations, pressures and constant scrutiny many women experience. Drawing from their own lives, Mortimer and Kelley crafted a song that balances frustration and vulnerability with a sense of empowerment and defiance.
One lyric solidifies the song’s message: “I’m proud to be a woman, but it’s a fight to be one.” The line carries a double meaning, reflecting both the ongoing challenges women face and the strength required to overcome them.
My Review:
The single is officially released September 11, 2026, on all platforms. From the outset, the vocal performance and drum sound feel rooted in rock. It starts off with a slower beat and a pulled-back feel before it punches into a chorus, with the song changing mid-section and picking up power.
“Numb” is a powerful song, and it volleys in with a really strong vocal performance throughout as the song develops. “Like a loaded gun… maybe I’m dangerous,” sings SJ, and the song delivers a statement of intent before we hear the EP at the end of the month.
There is a real sense of tension here, but it isn’t simply tension for tension’s sake. The track builds rather than giving everything away immediately, and that makes the moments when it opens up hit harder. There is fire underneath this one, and you can hear why Mortimer describes it as the big song of the project.
Having seen SJ perform live with Morganway, I was already curious about what her solo work would sound like. “Numb” doesn’t disappoint. It feels confident, emotionally charged and very much like an artist stepping forward and saying, this is who I am.
If this is the first taste of the new EP, then I’m definitely interested in hearing what comes next. The grey skies might still be hanging around outside, but for a few minutes, those speakers did exactly what I expected them to do — they glowed with heat.
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Full up to date information on tour dates and tickets here
Stream music from SJ Mortimer here
By Lorraine Foley
Love what we do? Rock the Joint Magazine is completely free — no paywalls, no ads ruining the read — just passionate music journalism for 1,000+ readers a day. If you enjoy hanging out with us, please consider hitting the “Support Us” button and buying us a coffee on Ko-Fi. Even a small donation genuinely helps keep the magazine running, lets us publish more features, and reminds us that people value independent music writing. Remember, we work hard for you here!