BRIT School-educated Ella Eyre first stepped into the spotlight back in 2012 with a feature on drum and bass hit ‘Waiting All Night’ by London band Rudimental. Since then, the award-winning singer-songwriter has featured on feel-good tracks with Wiz Khalifa, Naughty Boy, DJ Fresh and more recently, Sigala. Now, Eyre is back with pop single ‘Ego’ and a sophomore album in the works.

We spoke to the songstress about taking a new direction with her new music, guilty pleasures, supporting her rivals, and learning not to swear on social media.

Your new song ‘Ego’ ft. Ty Dolla $ign is out now! What were the inspirations behind the track?

Finally! I wrote it last year so it’s been a long drawn out process trying to make sure it’s perfect. I think it’s fair to say that most of the men I’ve ended up dating have been quite sure of themselves and confident. When you first have a crush on someone you wind each other up. It’s that sort of playfulness in the early days of dating that I wanted to capture for this song.

You’re currently in the process of writing your new album. Will you be changing direction from your debut album ‘Feline’ [2015] at all?

Completely, yeah! I’d say there was quite a bit of pop on the first album so I’m definitely honing that more and moving away from drum and bass. I love drum and bass and I’ve had so much fun touring it but I want to show diversity in my voice and explore a different genre. At 23, I’m still very much in my youth so I want to maximise that. I feel like my first album was rather sad and depressed because as a teenager you think the world is against you. Off the back of that, though, I’ve taken some time to reflect, travel the world, see my friends and realise life’s not all that bad!

Who are you working with on the album? Any exciting collaborations with other artists?  

There will be a few more [besides Ty Dolla $ign on ‘Ego’]; I don’t know how many yet as it depends on what songs are on the album. I came up on collaborations and I feel like it’s a really great way of introducing new artists who’ve come up with something new, different and exciting, so there will definitely be more!

You recently teamed up with Sigala for feel-good dance track ‘Came Here For Love’ as well!

The fact that it was the official soundtrack for London Pride was amazing! I’m so glad I was a part of that.

You have been a well-known face in the music industry for several years now. How have you developed as an artist in that time?

I’ve definitely learnt to be more patient. I’m quite an impatient person, especially when it comes to things like my career. Even if you don’t want to be, you become a role model and people aspire to be like you. One of the hard things for me has been learning not to swear on Twitter. I still do sometimes but when you have young people following you, you gotta stay PG [laughs]!

Have you noticed a change in the way people treat you [in the industry]?

I came from the Rudimental team and they’re all about family, so whenever I meet somebody who might be seen as a competitor, like Jess Glynne or Raye, I’ll always be friendly. I think being happy for other successful people is something people really struggle with in this industry but it’s something you have to do because the industry is so unpredictable.

What is your biggest bugbear?

A lot of things piss me off. For a start, I hate automated phone calls. Having to call up a company and speak to a robot for half an hour before I can speak to an actual person. I hate balloons – I hate the rubber ones because when they pop they’re so loud! It makes me anxious when people hold them [laughs]! I also really hate slow drivers.

Who would be your dream dinner party guests?

Joanna Lumley, Stormzy, Barack Obama and Lauryn Hill!

What is your guilty pleasure?

When I was younger, I would mix butter and sugar in a bowl and eat it! I still do it sometimes when I’m sad.

What is your FAULT?

Never being satisfied with what I have and not appreciating how lucky I am. I would like to think I could retire happy.

Ella’s new song ‘Ego’ ft. Ty Dolla $ign is now available on Apple Music, Spotify and iTunes. Find Ella on Instagram.

Words Aimee Phillips

Photos Jack Alexander

Styling Daisy Deane @ Frank Agency

Hair and Make Up Yasmina Bentaieb using Kerastase hair and MAC Cosmetics

Stylist’s Assistant Lois Jenner

Special thanks Jon Greenland