Ellie Marie Interview With Colby

Guide

Hello, Ellie. Your new EP “Don’t Take It To Heart” dropped on August 22nd. Can you walk us through what listeners can expect from these four tracks beyond “Rock Bottom”?

I think listeners can expect music that they will definitely be able to relate to in some sense. The EP as a whole is about both being in love and heartbreak, and learning to be yourself through it and be proud of who you are. Beyond “Rock Bottom”, each song has lyrics that stick with people, especially the title track.

You mentioned the EP explores themes of love, heartbreak, and holding onto who you are. Was there a particular moment or experience that inspired this collection of songs?

The main thing that inspired this for me was heartbreak, honestly. When you’re going through a breakup, you kind of lose yourself a little as you heal. I find songwriting very therapeutic, so writing this definitely helped me. By the time I wrote the title track, I had found my confidence again. That’s why I decided to have the title track be the last song on the EP—it feels like finding yourself again is almost the last step of healing after a breakup.

Critics have compared your sound to a blend of Shania Twain and Taylor Swift with touches of Colbie Caillat. How do you balance those pop sensibilities with your natural country roots?

It’s definitely an honour to be compared to them! I grew up on classic country and artists like Shania Twain and early Taylor Swift, so storytelling and that heartfelt, grounded feel will always be in my music. But I also love the melodies and hooks you hear in pop—songs that you can’t get out of your head. When I’m writing, I focus on keeping instruments and lyrics rooted in country, and then let the melodies give it that pop feel. It feels like the best of both worlds!

As a self-taught musician making waves in the UK country scene, what’s been the biggest challenge in establishing yourself in a genre that’s still growing here compared to Nashville?

I think although country music might be more niche in the UK, it’s definitely growing fast. It’s been difficult building an audience of people who are outside the “country group”, but it’s been great having opportunities to introduce people to the sound, and makes me want to write better music to bring people into the genre.

Following your debut EP “No Need for Words” earlier this year, how has your songwriting evolved, and what do you hope this new release accomplishes for your career?

Getting the chance to be in a studio and bounce off other musicians while recording my first EP definitely made me learn so much, and I like to think my songwriting has gotten so much better since then. I’ve been experimenting with new chords and adding in certain instrumental sections I wouldn’t have used on my first EP. I hope this new release can show my growth as a songwriter and helps introduce my music to a wider audience, while also delivering for those that enjoyed my first EP too.