Biography
and reviews
Ella is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist raised in the English countryside and now based in London. She draws on her British-American heritage and upbringing to create a fusion of Indie and Roots music.
Accompanying herself on piano, guitar and occasionally banjo, her unique voice and distinctive songs have enchanted many at the UK’s Americana hotspots and festival stages across the UK and US.
Her latest release, ‘Scotty’s Tyres’ is an angsty heartbreak anthem, co-written with Canadian Pop-Rock siren Poesy. With this track, Ella dives into a new place of vulnerability, power and darkness: ‘Slash your tyres, set your car on fire, and that’s something I still might do’. Her biggest sound to date, the track gives Ella space to stretch her wings vocally, a glimpse of what a future with a band could hold. It’s the furthest she’s exposed her Indie-Rock edge yet, while retaining the roots quality of her previous work with Jerry Joseph on resonator guitar and herself on acoustic and Wurlitzer piano.
Born in London and raised by British-American parents in the Suffolk countryside, Ella grew up surrounded by musicians after her father started the UK’s first Americana festival. She spent her school years studying classical piano and viola, but her early twenties saw her move to London and gravitate towards the music she was raised on. Hanging around the festival from an early age she sat in with the likes of Terra Lightfoot, Andrew Duhon and, more recently, Jerry Joseph, she then began to develop her own style and venture out on her own.
Last summer, at the invitation of friend and musical mentor Jerry Joseph, she joined Jerry in Portland, Oregon, for a short run of live dates and to record at The Panther, a recording space in the home of musician/engineer/producer Steve Drizos (Steve Drizos, The Jackmormons) and Jenny Conlee (The Decemberists), which has hosted some of Portland’s finest (Patterson Hood, Chris Funk, Jerry Joseph, Casey Neill, Marco Cilker).
The first track from the Panther sessions, ‘I Never Told You About Oregon’, was released on October 3rd to a sold-out launch at London’s Green Note and has since clocked over 100,000 views on Youtube. Ella kicked off 2025 with the release of ‘Warning Signs’, featured on BBC Introducing Suffolk & Norfolk and swiftly followed up by a debut showcase at the UK Americana Music Association’s Americana Week and performances at Folk Alliance in Montreal with British Underground.
The release of ‘Scotty’s Tyres’ comes ahead of festival appearances at Folk on the Pier, Red Rooster and The Gate To Southwell, with more recording in Portland on the horizon.
Reviews
“She was every bit as good as I knew she would be, delivering a multi-instrumental set of striking songs”
Paul Sexton, journalist, broadcaster, author, the Sound Lounge
“While her narrative is clearly personal, ‘I Never Told You About Oregon’ is one of those songs that is universally understood and felt and it’ll be one she plays, no doubt, for years and years….”
AMERICANA UK
“Very promising young country blues singer songwriter ….wowed a very enthusiastic audience on her What’s Cookin’ debut”
Ramblin’ Steve, What’s Cookin’
“Ella’s own down-at-heel-saloon-style-upright piano delivers a haunting Helpless-ish accompaniment to her silky vocal, sitting halfway between the folky flatlands of Suffolk and the gritty South Dakota badlands “
PLUNGER
Full Review HERE
“A star in the making”
Maverick Magazine
“All that talent on the path to greatness that your clearly going to ride, you’re phenomenal”
Jerry Joseph
“This is Ella’s song, and she delivers it with style and power. A new talent to watch.”
FATEA