Ella Doherty’s latest release, “Deserve,” is anthemic in its irreverent and fierce lyricism that lets toxic partners know they’ve lost all control. There is something so freeing and powerful about this song that will make you want to listen over and over again! Ladies, If you’ve been looking for a morale booster, this is it and more! The punchy drums and blunt lyrics will certainly leave you feeling empowered. We had the pleasure of interviewing Ella Doherty, and here’s what she had to say:
Q: I liked the fierce lyricism of “Deserve”! Do you mind sharing the story behind it?
DOHERTY: Deserve came to me as I started to talk to an old fling of mine, we started to actually talk about how we left things. He started saying how sorry he was and how he never meant to hurt my feeling, which was ironic. Why would someone go behind anyone’s back and then reply with “I didn’t want to hurt your feelings”? But he got what he deserved in the end after I did my time grieving. That’s where I originally got the song from. Some people really step on you and push you around and then ask why you don’t want to crawl back. If you think about it, men are hilarious.
Q: Can you walk me through your production and creative process in making this song?
DOHERTY: So with “Deserve” I actually downloaded a neighbourhood beat from YouTube that I really fell in love with. And I loaded it up in my Music app called BandLab, which is like a very easy way to produce songs. I sat at home and recorded over the beat and it just came to me very naturally. Then I sent it to my producer Birk Frisk in Sundsvall and I think we both fell in love with it directly. I went up to Sundsvall a couple of weeks later and we recorded it and made it better!
Q: Was there a pivotal moment in your life that set you on your path as a musician?
DOHERTY: I actually never thought of myself as a musician. I started writing poems to cope with some stuff going on in my life. And after my first boyfriend, who was a very talented musician, broke up with me, I thought a good way to win him back was to learn how to play guitar. But by the time I learned the guitar, it was already over for good. So I sat there with a guitar and started to sing my poems I had written down. And that’s how I started singing and making music.
Q: What would you say was the highlight of your 2022?
DOHERTY: My highlight was probably making my song XTC. That song is very close to my heart and one of the songs I started to write as a poem. I never thought I would make a song out of it because I was scared to show my real feeling and put myself out there. But I was surprised by the positive feedback. And I’m so grateful that this song which really means so much to me, means so much to the people who are listening also.
Q: Do you mind sharing some key aspects of your musical roadmap for 2023?
DOHERTY: So I’ll be letting another three singles out this year and maybe five if things go to plan. Also, my first performance on stage will be happening this year. So I’m very excited!
Q: What advice would you give to other up-and-coming artists trying to gain some visibility?
DOHERTY: For people who are ashamed or scared to let their music out because of what other people will think, my answer is “fuck em”. You are here to make yourself happy and no one else. And if you want to, there are so many people out there who would love to help you on the way. And for those who don’t know how to write their songs, take a story that’s happened to you—maybe something sad or happy or even angry—start with maybe writing a poem like I did. Don’t push yourself too hard in the beginning. Eventually, everything will fall into place. And if you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will.
Interviewed by Zoey King
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