Gone Solo: An Interview with Ellington
[UNPUBLISHED:] Tell us about yourself.
[ELLINGTON:] My name is Ellington, I'm an alternative musician based out of Los Angeles. I grew up in the music industry, and essentially I found my place in the music industry at a younger age, touring with R5 and The Driver Era. Now it's led me to release my debut EP which comes out Friday, April 16.
[UNPUBLISHED:] Tell us about your new EP.
[ELLINGTON:] The EP is self-titled and it was written at a time where I was at a crossroads in my life. Things I was a part of before were no longer an option for me, and I had to make some decisions. My life took a whole 180 turn. I was doing things on my own, meeting new people – I met my fiance, it was a very monumental change – and this EP came out of that. It's a very appropriate EP to lead the next part of my career. The thing is with this whole EP, I am trying to figure out my sound. That was a big part of this shift in my life. I did all the production, I did all the writing, it was a large task, but I feel very proud of it.
[UNPUBLISHED:] How difficult was it to develop your own sound once you went solo?
[ELLINGTON:] For a while there was a lot of trial and error. It was a fun time but it was also just frustrating because I'd also never been the sole producer of something so there was a lot of throwing things at the wall, realizing what works, what doesn't. Right before quarantine, I met Mark Needham, who is known for mixing Mr. Brightside by The Killers and he produced for Imagine Dragons, and it was a lucky situation. Since everyone was free on lockdown, it made things possible to where he would be able to work on my project with me.
[UNPUBLISHED:] How do you want your listeners to feel while experiencing the EP for the very first time?
[ELLINGTON:] I am an avid fan of music, and I think for avid fans of music when you hear music that touches you or that you just really feel is part of you, you get this feeling that we all know and love. That would be the best-case scenario if I could give that feeling that I have felt so many times. That also extends to live shows, there's a moment where you're going to see your favorite show where you almost feel this out-of-body experience and I feel like that's why music is so powerful. That's why people love it, that's why people pay so much money to go to Coachella and other festivals. That's why I spent so much money going to every show that comes to LA. I want to give that, I want to be a part of that.
[UNPUBLISHED:] What was it like going from playing in different bands to making your own music?
[ELLINGTON:] It was interesting because in the past I was a writer as well but I was collaborating, I was one of three people that were in a room. I have to make decisions myself, which is not what I was used to. That was a big challenge for me. If something wasn't sounding good, you just had to like look at yourself and just bang your head against the wall until you figured it out. It feels good to have gone through that.
[UNPUBLISHED:] How has being in a band affected the way you make your own music now?
[ELLINGTON:] We had a lot of writing sessions, we got to write with a lot of people. We got to write with like Captain Cuts who did Shut Up and Dance with Me by Walk the Moon. It was interesting to be in those rooms and see what I liked, what I didn't like. It was freeing to be able to incorporate what I liked from all sessions and all the experiences I've had. I'm very thankful for that as well because I feel like there's a lot you can learn by just watching somebody do, or by being in the room with someone as something happens and you get to see how it works.
[UNPUBLISHED:] What inspired you to start creating your own music?
[ELLINGTON:] It's something I've always wanted to do. The bands I've worked with I had fallen into as lucky accidents. I've always wanted to do something that I lead but having success in the past, I just got comfortable and I was enjoying touring and I was enjoying releasing albums and being on a label. I had to make the leap and just do it.
[UNPUBLISHED:] If you could give your younger self any advice regarding music what would it be?
[ELLINGTON:] I would give this to myself and also I'll add anybody else who is reading this or might be in this headspace: Just start. Do your own thing. If you’re considering doing something, do it because you'll wish you started it when you were 20. A lot of people are afraid but the earlier you start, if you know you want to do it, the better you'll be when the rubber meets the road.
[UNPUBLISHED:] How have your friends and family reacted to you releasing your own music?
[ELLINGTON:] Everyone knew I could sing, they knew I could play instruments, but the idea of me being an artist was foreign. I would imagine some of them probably think, “this is weird to see Ellington behind the drum set”. It's been a mixed bag but I think as of now people are just excited and very affirming.
[UNPUBLISHED:] If you could describe your EP in three words, what would they be?
[ELLINGTON:] It's going to be vibrant, energetic, and soulful because I like when people say “with a little bit of soul”. I can't help but incorporate that into my own music, I just go for the bluesy stuff.
[UNPUBLISHED:] Do you have any favorite songs off your EP or maybe ones that are a little more memorable to you.
[ELLINGTON:] I like to say they're all my favorite because as everyone says, they’re like my children. I think the first two singles I lead with, which are EMT and Sun to Rise!. Sun To Rise! was the first song that I finished after having a multitude of tracks that were half done. That is a special place in my heart. EMT, sonically speaking, probably speaks to where I want to go.
