I am surprised I have controlled myself for this long with only a brief mention of Ellie Goulding. I first heard Ellie on Huw Stephens’s Radio One show back in the middle of last year, I don’t know what exactly made me go on the hunt for more but I did and I have been in a little Ellie Goulding shaped musical bubble ever since.
It must be hard being a hyped artist, there’s nothing fake about Ellie Goulding and she is really where she is because people like her and her music and have believed in her. It interests me seeing how the tables have turned the more hype she is getting. I remember after hearing her track on Huw Stephens’ show I hunted online for more information, mp3’s, gig dates, videos, anything, the content was minimal and only really niche places were featuring her and she was cool and exciting but now she has (quite deservedly) won The Brits Critics Choice award and topped the BBC’ Sound of 2010 poll it seems that there are fears of her becoming overhyped. Something she can’t really control. I am of the opinion all judgements shouldn’t be cast in iron until the album (due out 1st March) is released. I do find it very interesting how she can get a lovely interview on The Quietus but also support the likes of Little Boots and judging by comment on forums and You Tube, there are a lot of Ellie fans who come more from the Little Boots/Florence/Pixie Lott/La Roux/<insert any female artist from the last 18months> Perhaps evidence that she has a wide appeal.
Ellie Goulding is very different from the aforementioned female artists, coming from a different musical background (cover’s of her favourites… Bon Iver & Midlake) and with Ellie it is 95% music and 5% image. With the influx of female artists it is interesting to see that perhaps we are finally rid of the 5% music and 9 image (cough, cough)
Anyway, enough enough. The music. Ellie Goulding’s vocals are faultless, unique, full of emotion and genuine. She can sing, and as she says, all her songs originated with jut her and her acoustic, it is then the magical electro touch of her friend/producer Starsmith that creates the finished product. Having seen her live earlier on this month, I can honestly say she can sing. She can perform and engage purely through her ability to sing in a somewhat captivating way and her humbleness is quite endearing.
‘Starry Eyed’, Ellie’s second single, is released today and her album ’Lights’ is released next Monday (1st March) I guess it will be then that we will see who is one what side and whether she really is worth the hype.
Download – Under The Sheets (Baby Monster Remix)
Download – Sleepyhead (Passion Pit Cover) Feat. Starsmith
