Bess Harriet Hildick-Smith, known professionally as Bess Atwell, was born on September 24, 1994, in South London. She grew up in Cambridgeshire and Sussex before attending Brighton College. Atwell began her musical journey by learning guitar through Taylor Swift songs and was significantly influenced by a Johnny Flynn concert. Her debut full-length album, Hold Your Mind, was released on July 8, 2016, when she was just 19 years old. Three years later, she released her first EP, Big Blue. Atwell's second full-length album, Already, Always, came out on September 24, 2021. Her third full-length album, Light Sleeper, produced by Aaron Dessner, was released on May 24, 2024 and received positive reviews. Notable singles include "Cobbled Streets" (2016), "Swimming Pool" (2018), and "Sylvester" (2023).
