Judy Pearson revisits a past relationship with greater clarity on Diary of A Heartbreak (Chapter Two). Where Chapter One explored hurt and confusion, these songs make room for confidence, confrontation and a little sarcasm, examining familiar memories through a changed perspective.
On Just A Boy, Pearson challenges behaviour she once struggled to understand; No One Else Like Me uses an imagined ex’s regret to explore self-worth that no longer needs their approval. Written as letters I’ll never send, the songs give her space to say her piece without waiting for a reply.
That directness carries into the recording. Working with Jeremy Rompala’s production and recording vocals at Pirate Studios in London, Pearson prioritised natural expression, allowing the reflective and more biting lyrics their own delivery. In this FM PRO Quickfire 5, she discusses writing beyond the initial hurt, revisiting earlier song imagery and keeping personality at the centre of a vocal performance.
I wanted listeners to really connect with the stories and feelings behind the lyrics.
Q1. Diary of A Heartbreak (Chapter Two) revisits the same relationship from a clearer viewpoint. What surprised you most about the songs you wrote once the hurt had settled?
I think what surprised me most was how differently I could look at the same experience once I’d moved on. When I wrote Chapter One, I was expressing a lot of hurt, confusion and disappointment, but with Chapter Two, I found myself approaching those memories with more confidence, clarity and even a little sarcasm.
I didn’t feel the same need to question why things had happened. Instead, I could reflect on what I’d learned and recognise my own worth. It was interesting to see how the same experience could inspire such a different perspective in my songwriting.
Q2. You describe these tracks as “letters I’ll never send”. What did songwriting allow you to say that a conversation couldn’t?
I think songwriting gave me the freedom to express myself without worrying about how the other person might react or whether they’d understand what I was trying to say.
In a conversation, emotions can sometimes get in the way, and you don’t always find the right words in the moment. With songwriting, I could take my time, reflect on my feelings and even use my imagination to explore things I might never actually say out loud.
For me, these songs weren’t about getting a response or reopening the past. They were simply a way of expressing my thoughts honestly, almost like writing a letter and deciding to keep it for myself.
Q3. Just A Boy revisits an image from Heart on the Wall. Why did you want to return to that idea with a more confrontational voice?
With Heart on the Wall, I was exploring the pain of feeling like just another person whose feelings had been taken for granted. But when I wrote Just A Boy, I wanted to approach that same idea from a completely different angle.
Rather than questioning why someone would behave that way, I wanted to challenge the behaviour itself. The song was partly inspired by my own experiences, but I also wanted to address the wider issue of people who treat relationships like a game without considering the emotional consequences.
I think the more confrontational tone reflects how much my perspective had changed. I wasn’t writing from a place of hurt anymore; I was looking back with greater confidence and calling out behaviour that I no longer felt the need to excuse.
Q4. No One Else Like Me imagines an ex realising what they lost. How did you keep the song’s sense of self-worth independent of their regret?
For me, the imagined regret was more of a storytelling element than something I needed to happen in real life. I liked the idea of exploring what it might feel like for someone to look back and realise they’d lost something special, but that wasn’t where the song’s sense of confidence came from.
By the time I wrote it, I’d already moved on, and I understood that my worth didn’t depend on whether that person ever regretted their decision.
I wanted the song to have that slightly cheeky, confident attitude while still carrying a genuine message about individuality. At the end of the day, knowing there’s no one else like me is something I can believe for myself, regardless of what anyone else thinks.
Q5. FM PRO TECH: Recording vocals at Pirate Studios and working with Jeremy Rompala, which recording or production choice made the biggest difference to how these personal lyrics come across?
For me, the biggest priority when recording the vocals was making sure the emotion and expression in my voice felt as natural as possible. Because the songs are so personal, I wanted listeners to really connect with the stories and feelings behind the lyrics.
Working with Jeremy Rompala’s production, and recording at Pirate Studios in London, I focused on delivering each song in a way that felt genuine rather than overly polished or forced. Whether it was the reflective moments or the more confident and sarcastic lyrics, I wanted those different emotions to come through in my performance.
Ultimately, I think it was that focus on natural vocal expression that made the biggest difference, allowing the personality and honesty of each song to shine through.
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