From So Sugar to The Misery: Luke Potter’s Ten‑Year Journey

From So Sugar to The Misery: Luke Potter’s Ten‑Year Journey

Over the past decade, UK singer‑songwriter Luke Potter has carved out a quietly powerful space in the indie‑pop and acoustic world — releasing heartfelt solo work, collaborating with rising artists, and even building a creative home base at his own Sweet Factory Studios. From the innocence of his early album So Sugar to the emotional honesty of recent singles like The Misery and Dance, Luke’s music has always been rooted in connection, vulnerability, and storytelling.

In this candid conversation, Luke reflects on ten years of growth, the lessons he carried from his early days visiting Los Angeles, the joy of writing with friends, and the creative spark behind his duo project Starlight Alice. He opens up about heartbreak, artistic evolution, and the surprising journey that led him to produce a new folk‑country‑pop album that feels more like a diary than a collection of songs.

Whether you’ve followed Luke since the beginning or you’re discovering him now, this interview offers a warm, honest look at an artist who continues to evolve while staying true to the heart of his craft.

We’re here with UK singer-songwriter Luke Potter. There’s about a decade of music and memories to cover, so let’s dive right in. First of all, Luke, your new single The Misery — tell me about that song and the inspiration behind it.
I had a pretty tough year last year. My ex-partner and I ended our relationship after about seven years together. The Misery is really a song about reflection — that period where your mind is full of questions. Was it me? Was it her? Was it just meant to happen that way?

What’s funny is that I wrote it in the summer, even though it has a bit of a Christmas feel. It ended up being a summary of that chapter of my life.

Another song you recently released — one I really love — is Dance. Tell me about that one and what inspired it.
Honestly, I was just having fun with it. It was one of the first songs I produced myself after getting all my recording gear set up. I was experimenting with strings and different sounds, and I wanted to make something with a calypso, dance-y vibe — which is why it literally has the word “dance” in it. It was just pure fun from start to finish.

You also released an EP called Songs I Made With Friends. How did that project come together?
That one goes back a bit. I flew over to Florida and ended up getting this amazing opportunity to be managed by WEG — Johnny Wright’s company. He still manages Justin Timberlake and was behind so many huge acts.

At the time, I was very new to songwriting, so they wanted me to travel and write as much as possible. They sent me to Sweden and Canada, and my very first session was with two guys named Marcus Lindberg and Hjalmar Wilén. I wrote the songs on that EP with them.

Not long after we met, one of the songs we wrote together was signed to Sony/Family Tree in Sweden, which was incredible. But the rest of the songs never saw the light of day. They just sat on my computer for years. I finally decided it was time to put them out into the world.

You also have a recent album called Colorado. It feels like a journey — through a place, an emotion, or both. What inspired the title and the themes behind it?
I wasn’t really planning to make an album. I’ve mostly been songwriting and producing for other people these past few years, but I always make time to write for myself. Eventually I realized I had a collection of songs that felt like they belonged together.

I didn’t put it on Spotify — instead, I bring it with me to gigs and share it physically, even though hardly anyone has CD players anymore.

As for the title, Colorado… I don’t know why, but I’ve always been drawn to that place. I’ve never been, but I see it everywhere and it’s high on my bucket list. The songs came from a period in my life where I kept thinking, “I’ve got to go to Colorado.”

So any pennies I make from the album are going straight into my Colorado fund. One day I want to look back and say, “That album helped get me to the place I always dreamed of visiting.”

This year marks the 10-year anniversary of So Sugar. What memories stand out from creating that album, and how do you reflect on its legacy now?
That album represents the first time I ever went to Los Angeles. I grew up listening to an artist named Bleu McAuley — my dad introduced me to his music, and we spent countless hours listening to him on long drives. He was one of my dad’s heroes.

So having Bleu produce So Sugar for me in Los Angeles was surreal. Not only was I recording in LA — which felt like a dream — but I was doing it with someone I’d grown up listening to, someone my dad admired. It was special for both of us.

When I listen back now, it’s amazing how your perspective changes as you grow. Songs like It’s Okay to Dream and Crazy Enough to Try and Change the World feel so innocent now — bright, colorful snapshots of who I was then.

I look back on that album with a lot of fondness. It was a beautiful experience, and one I’m grateful I got to share with my dad.

You’ve been writing and producing for other artists at your Sweet Factory Studios. How does that process differ from writing for yourself?
In some ways, it’s actually easier. When I’m writing for myself, every single word has to mean something deeply personal — that’s just who I am as a writer. But when I’m working with other artists, I can detach a bit. I can let go of the reins and let them lead, which is really fun.

It’s always a challenge, though. I tell people that writing a song with someone else is a bit like a therapy session. Even if you’ve just met, you have to get to know them quickly and help them tell their story.

You also have another project, Starlight Alice, which you do with Jacob Browne. Give me a little background on Jacob and what drew you to form this duo.
We got connected through my old manager, and we clicked straight away. At first, we were writing songs for him as a solo artist. We loved working together, and I’d often sing harmonies on the tracks we wrote.

At some point — I can’t even remember exactly how the conversation started — it just made sense to try something as a duo. That became Starlight Alice. The music leans into a folky kind of genre, and we’ve been writing together for a couple of years now.

We’ve been a bit quiet recently because life gets busy, but I love making music with him. I’m really glad we have these songs to share.

Let’s talk about one of those songs — Pieces of My Heart. What inspired it, and how did you approach writing it?
It’s one of those classic heartbreak songs. It’s about that girl you can’t get enough of, even though you know she’s not good for you. You want her to leave you alone… but at the same time, you really don’t want her to leave you alone. That push and pull.

You visited Hollywood nearly a decade ago. How did that experience shape your perspective on the music industry and your career?
It was a huge eye-opener. I come from a town in England called Weston-super-Mare — lots of talented people, but it’s a very different environment.

Going to Los Angeles and being surrounded by so much creativity really opened my mind to how serious and competitive the music business is there. I know a lot of it has shifted toward Nashville now, but LA was incredibly inspiring.

I’d love to go back. There’s such a buzz — everywhere you look, someone is chasing a dream or trying to change their life. When I think of LA, I think of that feeling that anything is possible.

Have you been to Los Angeles since?
Not in a long time. I think I went back a couple of times after I met you, but honestly, I can’t remember the last time. It must have been seven or eight years ago.

So probably before the pandemic, right?
Yeah — crikey, that happened too.

It sure did. How did the pandemic affect your music and your career, if at all?
It gave me a lot of time to focus on production and songwriting. I did quite a few Zoom sessions, which was nice. But mostly, it gave me time — like it did for everyone — to sit, think, pick up a guitar, and keep going.

It changed things for musicians. People started doing live shows on Facebook and Instagram, and now that’s become pretty normal. It shifted the way we connect with listeners.

What lessons from your early career — like releasing So Sugar independently — still guide you today as you release new singles and albums?
It’s a very different process for me now because over the years I’ve taken on more of the production myself. But making So Sugar taught me so much. I got to watch how an album comes together — or at least how to think about making an album — and I still carry those lessons with me.

Things are different now, of course. I eventually put So Sugar on Spotify, but at first it only existed as a physical CD. It’s funny because it doesn’t feel that long ago, yet somehow it’s been ten years. I’m still trying to wrap my head around that.

Performing live today, what can someone expect from a Luke Potter show?
Most of the gigs I do around Weston and across the UK — down to Cornwall, up to the Cotswolds, wherever I can get to — are very intimate. It’s just me and an acoustic guitar. No big band, no drums behind me, even though sometimes I think that would be fun.

But I’ve always been an acoustic performer. The shows can be fun, emotional, or somewhere in between. I just hope people listen to the songs and take something from them. No flashy lights — just me, a guitar, and hopefully a few people singing along.

With over a decade in the industry, what advice would you give a younger songwriter who’s just starting out?
The best advice I ever heard was at the ASCAP convention in Los Angeles — I think it was Greg Wells who said it. It’s a bit brutal, but it stuck with me: If you’re serious about being a musician and you have a plan B… take it.

What he meant was that this industry is tough. If you love making music just for the joy of it, that’s amazing. But if you want to pursue it as a career, you have to dive in completely. There will be times when things don’t go your way.

So my advice is: believe in yourself. Trust that you can do it. When you take action, other things happen because of those actions. That’s how momentum builds.

It’s even more intense now than it was in the MySpace days — with Instagram and constant new artists emerging. What would you suggest someone do to stand out?
Be completely honest with yourself and in your writing. It’s easy to get caught up trying to write songs you think people will like. When I was signed, I went through a phase where I got confused about what I was trying to make because I just wanted to create something they would like.

But music, to me, is about connection. If you sit down and really explore what’s making you happy, sad, confused — whatever you’re feeling — and tell that story truthfully, that’s what makes you stand out.

When people start writing, they often imitate the artists they love. That’s natural. But by doing it over and over, and by being honest, you eventually discover who you are.

Final question: In the new year, what’s next for you? More solo projects, Starlight Alice releases, or new collaborations?
Lots of gigs — I’ll be gigging a lot in the new year. And I’m working with some wonderful, talented people. Jacob, of course. I’m also working with an amazing singer named Kezia Povey — she was on X Factor in 2015 — and another great artist, Beth Fitzgerald, whose work I absolutely love.

So there’s plenty of new music coming. And I’m also in the middle of producing a new album for myself. This one feels more like a diary entry than a collection of songs that simply fit together. It’s got a folk–country–pop vibe, and I’m really excited about it.

In Conclusion

As Luke Potter steps into a new chapter — balancing intimate acoustic shows, heartfelt collaborations, and the creation of a deeply personal new album — one thing remains constant: his commitment to honesty in his music. Whether he’s reflecting on a decade of growth, exploring new sounds with Starlight Alice, or producing songs that feel like pages from his diary, Luke continues to evolve without losing the sincerity that first drew listeners in.

With fresh projects on the horizon and a renewed creative spark, Luke’s next decade looks just as promising as his first. If his journey so far is any indication, the best is still ahead — and fans will no doubt be eager to follow wherever the music leads him.

(Interview by Ken Morton)

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