Ella Clayton, the London-based folk-pop artist making waves with her soulful melodies and heartfelt lyrics, is back with a brand new single, 'Honey'. The track offers a taste of what's to come from this rising star, offering an expressive folk-pop sound that is sure to enchant.
From her early days penning poems in countless notebooks to gracing the stage at Latitude Festival, Ella's story is one of passion, dedication, and a genuine love for crafting music that resonates with the soul.
We recently caught up with Ella to chat about her musical journey, the inspiration behind 'Honey', and her exciting plans for the future.
It's great to catch up with you, Ella. How did you first start making music? Where did it all begin?
"I can’t remember a time where I didn’t feel the urge to put pen to paper. I have notebooks crammed with rubbish poems and innocent confessions from as soon as I could write. This compulsion is still very much within me and drives my songwriting without a doubt. I grew up in a music-loving household and taught myself guitar aged 13. Soon after, I started writing my own and built up a whole delicious private world within my songs that I’d only share with people I really trusted. My songs were like secrets for years! Later I got the confidence to perform my music at open mics and pubs around London and Brighton - and I haven’t stopped since!"
With the new single out, and lots of new listeners finding your music, how would you describe your sound?
"I’d describe my sound as soulful indie-folk. I love when a record sounds like a bunch of musicians playing live together in one room, and that’s how we’ve made the majority of my music. The beauty of collaborating with different musicians and producers is seeing how your sound can develop and evolve, so we’ll see! But I’ve been told my sound is the musical equivalent of a warm hug and I think that’s quite lovely."
What influences most define your music?
"Crosy Stills Nash and Young, Deja Vus/Carol King, Tapestry."
"I feel inspired by any artist who is truthful and authentic - across all genres. I’ve been listening to Liam Bailey on repeat since his last record ‘Zero Grace’ came out a few months ago."
"I love storytelling songs and would say I’m hugely inspired by the novels and poems I read - Maggie O’Farrell is my current favourite writer. I love the way she zooms in on a moment and slowly expands outwards like the eye of a camera - I try to do that with my lyrics."
What would your dream collaboration be?
"Ahh there are so many! Laura Marling? Bon Iver? Dijon? Big Thief?"
Let's dive into the new single, can you tell us about 'Honey' and how it came about?
"I recorded 'Honey' with Matt Cooke and Michael Hemmings in their studio in North London. The song is a break-up song in a way, but it’s also a celebration of love and long summer days. We wanted to capture that rose-tinted, honeyed retrospection within the sound world."
What is your songwriting process? How does it all come together?
"It honestly varies. I write every day - whether it's a stream of consciousness, rambles, or working on distilling an idea, getting to the root of it, consistency is key for me. Sometimes words come with a melody, or around the other way. The most frequent thing for me is to have a melody or a chord progression, play it over and over and piece together a song from scraps of ideas scribbled in my notebook."
What’s the most important thing for you when you’re writing a song?
"That it feels truthful. I find the more specific and truthful you are to your own feelings and experience, the more likely someone else is able to recognise themselves in it. And that’s what the magic of music is all about really. Being seen."
What advice would you give to band’s who are looking to make it?
"Play live as much as you can!"
What has been your best moment as a musician so far?
"One moment that comes to mind was playing on George Ezra’s stage at Latitude Festival in 2023! It was my first mainstream festival and I played with my band. I’m generally just so proud to be making music with people I love and admire so much! Stay tuned!"
It's clear that Ella Clayton is an artist on the rise, with a bright future ahead. With new music on the horizon and a passion for creating authentic and relatable songs, she's definitely one to watch. 'Honey' is out now, so be sure to give it a listen and immerse yourself in Ella's world of honeyed melodies and heartfelt storytelling.
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