Talented Cardiff-born singer Ellie Parris joins us for a trip down the pub. With a brand-new track out today, we chatted away with her soulful self.
Ellie, what are you drinking?
You know what, I’m such a grandma sometimes. I don’t drink alcohol much, so I’d probably get a lime and soda – it has to be lime cordial and then a squeeze of fresh lime. I do love a glass of red wine however.
What type of red?
A merlot or a malbec – a rich wine, but not too strong, it has to be rich, definitely.
Why this pub?
I’ve been coming here since 2017 and used to work here part-time.
ArrayYou can have a dinner party with three other people – dead or alive. Who would you pick?
Hands-down, Erykah Badu… Sade and Andre 3000. Their energy alone would teach enough. Not to be so serious & the tools of expression (Andre 3000 & Erykah). And then Sade’s tone & mystery. If you think about it, you never really saw her in the press, never really saw much negative attention. She just made music and enjoyed it. That’s it.
Sade hasn’t done a down the boozer yet – maybe she should… If you could have any actor play you in a biopic, who would it be?
Sanaa Lathan. I’m definitely an emotional person. So I feel like she would get every aspect of it.
Which track do you wish you’d written and why?
I’m going to go recent. Lucky Daye did this song with Yebba – How Much Can A Heart Take – It’s always on repeat. The harmonies, the lyrics, wow. Every time I listen to it, I think if I wrote that I’d be proud.
Let’s talk about your music then. Seasons, your first single, how do you feel about it?
It’s the baby, the first one, it’s scary, but I’m so happy it’s out. And I’m loving the reception. It’s also a real achievement for me to make something in the year and get it out because I’m a super perfectionist. It symbolises this idea of not getting lost in the doubt and just going for it – the cycles of push and pull and not being sure. It’s about looking past those and just doing it anyway; setting intentions and going with the changes.
And you also have a new track out now, Always. Do you feel like it captures you as an artist?
I think there’s so much more to me, but I definitely think it captures a part of me experimenting and hopefully not being too serious – being guided by feeling more than structure. It definitely shows all of that, but now I want to get more in my R&B bag. There’s lots more to come.
Who would your dream collab be?
Oh my gosh. My dream collab… H.E.R. Imagine that writing session. Regardless of the result, the session alone would just be worth it.
Where’s your favourite place in the world?
I went to Mexico, and it was paradise. But my main next one has to be home, where my Dad is from, Saint Kitts and Nevis. No excuses, that’s the next one. So I’m going say that’s my favourite even if I haven’t been there. There’s a lot of expectation.
And do you miss Cardiff sometimes?
I do. I try to go as often as I can. All my family are there. I have one sister here, which helps. But I do miss it. The people are different. Cardiff is warm, it’s always warm, energy wise that is.
Do you think London helps with creativity or can hinder it?
It does because in Wales, despite being as warm as it is, you can get too comfortable. So London does give you a little bit of a reality check, which is what you need. It’s always good to have a balance.
What’s next?
I just want to brush up on all my skills and continue to enjoy the process. I make my best music when in the moment and not have many distractions. So I’m honing in on my skills.
