Hello! I’m Ellis, and I’m a singer, songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and whatever else my silly little projects happen to require at any given moment.
Whenever someone asks, “So what kind of music do you make?” I never know where to start. For a long time, I called it indie-pop with folksy charm, but lately my sound has been expanding a bit. I’ve been playing with jazz-standard–inspired writing, and dipping a toe into a kind of soft, vaguely country feel; I’ve lovingly named my newer style “yeehaw jazz”. My songs blend YouTube-era twee bedroom pop, coffeehouse-confessional lyrics, and melodies that feel like they’ve been around forever. Mostly, I just try to make music that little-kid-me would like. Honestly, if you’ve come up with a good elevator pitch for what I do, please tell me! I would genuinely love to hear it.
I’ve thought of myself as an artist for as long as I can remember. My roots are very much classical; viola was my main instrument through school and university, though I’ll happily attempt to play any instrument within reach. I started learning to write and record my own music in high school, and I’ve been sharing my songs online for several years now. I don’t feel like there’s a moment I became a “real musician”, and perhaps I never will, but it’s fun to give it my best shot, imposter syndrome and all.
My third and most recent album, Lovebird, is what I’ve been calling an “Oops, All Love Songs” record. I write a lot about romantic love, but I hadn’t put most of those songs into the world yet; there’s a kind of bravery in it. I’m very honest in my more melancholy writing, but it somehow feels more vulnerable to be joyful. Lovebird became an anthology of sorts: a careful collection built up over years. This project has been a bit of an uphill battle; it hasn’t come as naturally to me as earlier releases have. However, it’s also been a huge learning experience, as well as being a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with friends and musicians whom I adore.
Outside of my own songwriting, I'm dipping my toes into being a session musician for other folks, specifically as a strings player. I've been fortunate to record for dear collaborators like Lauryn Marie, Copeland James, and we just met. It's always a ton of fun, and I’m very excited to continue this little sidequest of mine.
More than anything, I aspire to be a storyteller. I want to be seen. I want you to be seen too. Please feel free to reach out about anything and everything; I’d always love to chat.
Sending all my love,
Ellis
