“You hit me with lightning” sings Ellie Goulding, as she bedazzles the small but newly- besotted crowd at The Shed music venue in Leicester. These lyrics, from ‘Starry Eyed’ offer a sample of the kind of sound the singer aims for…and achieves.
The Leicester gig on November 31st was some time ago now, but ultimately provided a select few of the city’s music lovers with a glimmer of her awesome potential. Now Goulding is being predicted as a future chart favourite with radio plays of both ‘Starry Eyed’ and ‘Under the Sheets’ garnering comparisons to fellow electro-flavoured darlings Little Boots and Bat for Lashes.
This ‘folktronic’ singer-songwriter picked up her first guitar at the age of 15 and hasn’t stopped ever since, in her pursuit of the coveted record deal. However, on entering the new decade, Goulding’s prospects are seemingly boundless.
‘Under The Sheets’, demonstrates this, by displaying Goulding’s confidence and natural ease in the job she has waited years to do. She sings of relationships and their troubles with unfaltering sass that is simply cool.
“We’re under the sheets and you’re killing me” she repeats. Goulding is obviously not one to mince her words.
She brandishes a drum stick with verve, bringing it down with a crash onto her signature drum that features throughout the 3 minutes and 48 second song. It’s hard not to dance to this catchy but understated single, with Goulding’s voice merging perfectly with the keyboards and energetic beats.
Her voice definitely stands out from the generic pop sound which is so popular at present. It carries an almost ethereal quality that would presumably lose its edge when heard live. Yet her solid performance on Later with Jools Holland quashed any fear of this being the case. Goulding treated the audience to ‘Under the Sheets’, as well as the more stripped down, acoustic ‘Guns and Horses’.
The sheer fact that Jools Holland invited her to perform two songs off her highly-anticipated debut album ‘Lights’, highlights the impact this sweet and unassuming singer from Hereford is having on the current scene. Original, clever lyrics, as well as killer choruses make it very difficult for Goulding’s songs to grow old.
Currently prepping herself for a UK tour supporting Passion Pit which commences on March 3rd as well as her own solo tour (starting later that month on March 25th), 2010 will surely be a busy and unforgettable year for Miss G.
‘Under the Sheets’ is currently available to download. Her debut album ‘Lights’ is set for release on March 1st, you can pre-order it here.
Look out for Ellie’s next single ‘Starry Eyed’ out February 22nd.
Olivia Turner