ELLA HENDERSON’S GLORIOUS COMEBACK, NEW MUSIC IN 2020, AND DREAM COLLAB WITTH LIZZO
23 Year old British singer Ella Henderson is back with new music and a promise of new music to the fans.
A few months ago, Henderson released “Glorious,” the lead single from her EP with the same name, packed with lots of new songs for fans.
Henderson’s powerful vocals and music that transcends across pop, contemporary R&B and soul genres, have captured the world’s attention since being in The X Factor in 2012. In 2014, her chart topping single “Ghost” changed her life and propelled her further to stardom.
In this exclusive interview, we sat down with the talented young musician and talked about The X Factor, her chart topping single “Ghost,” how her life experiences reflect her songwriting and music making process, and her exciting new music.
PHOTO: POLLY HANRAHAN
It’s been years since The X Factor happened. How has been since then?
It’s kind of crazy how long ago those days feel now! But I guess right now I am in an exciting place, and I am really looking forward to 2020. I think this feels like a really exciting time to release music as a young British female.
How was it to do live versions of your songs? Do you like it more than the studio recordings?
I think it’s always nice to hear songs in their raw form and how they were written which is why I often upload live and acoustic versions of my tracks on social media! I know my fans love to feel like they’re part of the process with me.
Walk us through your process in making music, and in performing music. How do you usually prepare yourself?
Songwriting for me is therapy. Whenever I go through something in life whether that be good or bad, I end up writing about it as my form of release. This somehow then ends up becoming my body of work and everything that I’ve gone through becomes a snippet of a diary for my fans to hear.
After the global success of “Ghost,” how excited are you to release new music?
I think coming back after having such a successful record can almost be a blessing and a curse at the same time, because you end up putting a lot of pressure on yourself at some point down the line. However, my approach in the end is that this part of my life is a fresh new chapter, and as long as I am honest with myself and my fans, everything is going to be ok! I am so excited for my fans to hear what I have been up to; it’s been a bloody while.
PHOTO: POLLY HANRAHAN
Tell us about the new music you’re releasing.
My new music is very much still me, but I have grown quite a bit since my first album which I wrote when I was only 16yrs old. So this is my new chapter of my diary from the perspective of 23yr old me!
Which song is your favorite from your recently released EP and why?
Glorious!! - I love how empowering this record is and how it makes you feel. I wanted to give something back to my fans and to remind them, and myself of how important it is to be yourself and not give a damn of what anyone thinks of you! Self-growth and self-confidence is something I am on a journey with daily. I feel as though ‘Glorious’ is a message which helps me musically stand for that.
Which artist would you love to collaborate with on a project?
There are some amazing artists out there! But I would have to say Lizzo. I think she is one incredible female and she inspires me creatively, musically and I just love that she embraces everything she is.
How do you balance your time?
I don’t! (laughs) But no, I guess in this industry once you begin to go again, everything becomes crazy and all of a sudden your schedule can become wild! So I would say I have definitely realized just how important it is to make sure that you have enough time for yourself when you have a day off here and there. I’ve started doing yoga and meditation which I find really helps me to switch off from all the noise even when my mind doesn’t let me.
What would you say is the best moment of the decade for you?
I would have to say for me it was a personal moment, and it’s when ‘Ghost’ hit the charts at No.1 for two weeks. That song literally changed my life.
What are you most excited about in 2020?
Finally sharing my music with my fans!! It has been a long time coming but good things come to those who wait!
If you were a book, what book would you be and why?
Definitely some crazy fictional, fantasy novel, my life & me are bonkers!
