Lucy Woodham catches up with Ella Eyre ahead of her first solo UK tour 
SheÔÇÖs known for being the voice behind tracks with Rudimental, Bastille and Naughty Boy and as the 20 year old Londoner with the big hair, but after the release of her third EP ÔÇÿComebackÔÇÖ, Ella Eyre is finally coming into the limelight as one of the UKÔÇÖs leading female solo artists.
Currently on her first solo UK tour, Ella lands at Cardiff StudentÔÇÖs Union on October 12th. Is she excited to play in Cardiff? ÔÇÿIÔÇÖm looking forward to it! I played the Students Union once earlier on but IÔÇÖm looking forward to playing my own show, itÔÇÖll be really good.ÔÇÖ
Her most recent EP ÔÇÿComebackÔÇÖ comes as the third instalment in Ella Eyre discography and follows ┬ádebut EP ÔÇÿIf I GoÔÇÖ, which bridged the gap between herself and Rudimental, and ÔÇÿDeeperÔÇÖ, the record that finally got her tipped as being one-to-watch in the UK music scene. No stranger to working personal matters such as relationships, break ups and cheating into her music, Ella believes that this is without a doubt the most important part of her writing. ‘I feel like when I listen to music I want it to effect me and I want it to draw out emotions that I didnÔÇÖt believe I had. When people listen to my stuff I want them to feel the same way I do.ÔÇÖ
Her raw, husky voice was first spotted at the BRIT School. A few years down the line, Ella attended the BRIT Awards not as a student guest, but instead as a nominee and winner of the BRIT Award ÔÇÿSingle of the YearÔÇÖ for RudimentalÔÇÖs ÔÇÿWaiting All NightÔÇÖ. ItÔÇÖs still evident how unexpected the turn around was for the singer. She excitedly explains; ÔÇÿIt was completely surreal to have gone there on the school trip with my mates on the coach, then 3 years later to arrive in a fucking BMWÔǪactually I think it was an AudiÔǪ and to have a table and not be sitting high upÔǪit was surreal!ÔÇÖ
The up-tempo, soul singer is by no means intimidated by this sudden rise to fame and the harsh reality of the music world: ÔÇ£I didnÔÇÖt find it difficult. I learnt so much from those guys [Rudimental] but I always went in to the tour with a solo mind, I knew I eventually wanted to be the captain of my own ship. If anything I was 100% ready for it.ÔÇÖ At a mere age of 20, itÔÇÖs surprising how mature and determined Ella is in wanting to be even more successful. Her recent performance at Glastonbury was marked as the highlight of summer and one of her favourite performances yet, saying: ÔÇÿGlastonbury was the first festival I ever went to after my GCSEÔÇÖs. I had so much fun there and so it was quite surreal four years later being on the stage and actually being apart of it.ÔÇÖ
An interview Ella Eyre doesn’t pass without asking about her iconic hair, which she comically describes as: ÔÇÿa feature that people are definitely aware ofÔÇÖ, and tells that she is yet to have an interview where it hasnÔÇÖt been brought up. Does she feel the pressure to stand out in the UK female solo artist industry, then, to which she courteously replied: ÔÇÿI find it great, all us female artists support each other and stand up for each other, thereÔÇÖs a really lovely artist community going on right now.ÔÇÖ
When speaking about the influences behind the album and the type of sound we can expect to hear, Ella gushes ÔÇÿI grew up listening to Basement Jaxx, Gnarls Barkley and Michael Jackson. IÔÇÖve always enjoyed up tempo, fun, soulful music and I think thatÔÇÖs what I wanted to create from my own album.ÔÇÖ
Catch Ella Eyre at the SU on October 12th – Tickets ┬ú13 (+┬ú1.50 booking fee)