GOING SOLO: This year has been all about solo work for Ella. In addition to releasing her singles, she has been recording her forthcoming debut album, Feline.    Photo by Joseph Okpako/Redferns via Getty Images

By Geoffrey Rowlands

 

Ella Eyre has written numerous songs for Japanese artists. But the 20-year-old London-born singer/songwriter couldn’t tell you who the artists were or which of her songs they might have recorded.

“I’ve written a huge pile of songs over the last few years. So many that I didn’t even know they existed anymore. I didn’t want them for myself but my publishers have worked very hard to make sure they’ve been of use. That meant using them in the Japanese market so, without my really knowing much about it, I’ve become a J-pop songwriter.”

Her singing ability, rather than songwriting, set Ella on the road to stardom. Although she has now enjoyed success in her own right with If I Go and her current hit, Comeback, Ella first found fame as the featured vocalist on Rudimental’s 2013 UK chart-topper, Waiting All Night.

“Being a featured vocalist is a great way to get noticed. I had obviously come to the attention of Rudimental and other artists I’ve collaborated with such as Naughty Boy, Bastille and Tinie Tempah. But I wasn’t well known by the general public. Singing on Waiting All Night and the song becoming such a massive hit effectively meant the average pop fan suddenly knew who I was.”

She might have become known for sporting rather than musical endeavours. Ella Eyre, music star, could well have been Ella McMahon, champion swimmer.

“I was always very competitive, a trait I get from my mother. I had a genuine talent for swimming and attended Millfield School with the intention of training to become an Olympic gold medallist. But your priorities change during childhood. I eventually decided I was more interested in musical theatre than swimming. I left Millfield and went to the BRIT School.”

Attending the BRIT School changed Ella’s life. Although she enjoyed her studies, she felt performing other people’s words and songs repressed her own creativity. She wanted to write and perform her own material.

“It wasn’t just the personal discovery of what I wanted to do. I had a voice coach at school who bumped into an old friend at a gig. The friend was part of a management team. My name was mentioned and I quickly found myself with a management deal.”

Industry recognition of her collaborative work saw Ella achieve runner-up spots in the BBC Sound of 2014 poll and the Critics’ Choice BRIT Award. She was pipped to both honours by singer/songwriter Sam Smith.

“I can’t complain about losing to Sam. He’s had a phenomenally successful year. I hope I can emulate his success with my solo work.”

This year has been all about solo work for Ella. In addition to releasing her singles, she has been recording her forthcoming debut album, Feline.

“The title couldn’t be more appropriate. I love my cats and miss them terribly when I’m away working. The album was originally scheduled to come out about now but I agreed to do a tour with Bastille so I wouldn’t be available for much promotional work. We’ve pushed the release date back to February when there is some free space in my diary.”

“Feline” will probably be promoted on the back of her next single. The initial idea was to promote the album with Comeback which most critics agree is Ella’s strongest single to date.

“It’s actually an old song written when I was a more opinionated and aggressive teenager. It’s also quite controversial in that I use a swear word in the unedited version. But it is in context with the emotion of the song. It deals with the anger you feel when a person leaves you for someone else so it’s a song which virtually everyone can relate to.”

in brief

 

Billy Idol

Billy Idol is the latest music star to write an autobiography. Taken from the title of one of his most popular songs, Dancing With Myself is a 300-page tome that chronicles the Generation X singer’s life from childhood in England and America through his involvement in the punk scene to current times as a still important cog in the music machine.

Unlike most rock star autobiographers, Billy did not use a ghostwriter.

“I felt anyone reading my book should be exposed to the real me, not a watered down and tidied version of what I wanted to say.”

He certainly pulls no punches in detailing many of his excesses. We also learn about the significant episode in Billy’s life, which eventually led to his recording a cover of Tommy James & The Shondells’ Mony Mony.

Now nearing his 59th birthday, next week sees the release of “Kings and Queens of the Underground,” Billy’s first album in eight years. The lead single, Can’t Break Me Down, and two behind-the-scenes videos covering the recording process of the new album are posted at (no www.) billyidol.net/kings-queens-of-the-underground/

Another album track, “Postcards from the Past,” can be heard at www.youtube.com/watch?v=qq88mg-lxro. The official video for Billy’s song, Dancing With Myself, is at www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG1NrQYXjLU

 

Stevie Nicks

 

Singer/songwriter Stevie Nicks is currently touring North America with Fleetwood Mac. Unable therefore to undertake much promotional work, it seems a strange time to release her latest solo album, 24 Karat Gold - Songs from the Vault.

The loyalty of Stevie’s fans should still be more than enough to make it a big hit. But the album is unusual in that while it was recorded earlier this year, only one of the songs is less than 20 years old. Indeed, most were written between 1969 and ‘87.

Apart from Vanessa Carlton’s 2011 track, Carousel, the other 13 songs, 15 on the iTunes Deluxe edition, are all Stevie Nicks originals which have simply never previously been released. Stevie describes each song as a love story.

“They represent the passing years of my life. The secrets, the broken hearts, these songs are the memories, the 24 karat gold rings in the blue box.”

Lead single, The Dealer, was released two months ago. The official lyric video is at www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkMmlHNvlR8

Three more tracks have also been released as singles. The only official song video was made for Lady. This can be seen at www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ua0XjC5JiE. Lyric videos were created for Starshine and 24 Karat Gold. The former is posted at www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg0K9uH-zpc while the latter is at www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQIk_SOsiys

 

Paul Revere and The Raiders

 

Paul Revere’s recent death will sadden many older readers who were around during the 1960s and 70s.

Organist and founder of Paul Revere and The Raiders, the band’s first hit was in 1961 when their instrumental Like, Long Hair, reached number 38 on the Billboard singles chart.

They went on to record a string of hit singles and albums. These included five top ten songs the most popular of which was their 1971 chart-topper, Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian). An audio posting of this track is at www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP_pvBjedvc

Although the hits had long since dried up and Paul was the only remaining original member, the band continued performing until earlier this year. They had concerts booked well into 2015 but the state of 76-year-old Paul’s health as he bravely battled the cancer that eventually claimed his life forced them into retirement.

The band’s other hits and numerous live performances can be found on YouTube. Gain access by typing their name in the website search box.