We had the pleasure of interviewing Ella Collier, and here’s what she had to say:
Q: What drives you to create music?
COLLIER: Pure love. I’ve always been obsessed with music, it’s more than just a song to me. Music is an emotional and creative collage of learning, teaching, and connecting. Every time I put that pen to paper to write a song, it’s a spiritual experience, and when I can catch that creativity, it’s magical. Creating soundscapes around an emotion inspires parts of me that I forgot existed and getting to collaborate with others creates an unbreakable bond.
Then, putting that music out is an even greater excitement, getting to experience music with other people, and connecting to other people’s experiences through mine is more special than I can put into words.
This is my passion and my purpose, but really at the end of the day, I’m just a vessel. When I get on that stage I feel like I’m the most myself, but at the same time, I’m not me anymore, I’m just reflecting the listener’s story back to them.
Q: At what point did you decide that you want to be a musician? Why?
COLLIER: I’ve always been a performer. I feel like every passionate artist says this, but when you’re a creative, you’re born like that, your mind grasps onto different perspectives of the world and it’s exciting. Ever since I was a toddler, I would put on performances for my family and never shut up about it, my parents had to dedicate “silent time” for me. Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus were my biggest inspirations as a child, and still are.
I started musical theater when I was 7 years old and started seriously pursuing music when I was 11 years old, performing songs I wrote in my bedroom on my acoustic guitar to anyone who would listen. I have always written music about what’s going on in my head, and I’ve always felt the most comfortable on a stage, it’s just something I have to do. I can’t see myself doing anything else.
Q: What does “HOLD PLEASE” mean to you?
COLLIER: “HOLD PLEASE” is a journey of self-realization. I start off the song with a surrender to vulnerability and then use that to fuel my empowerment through the rest of the song. I wrote this song when I was 2 months sober and questioning everything, from who I was, to how the world worked, to who my real friends were, and what I realized throughout the process of making this song is that you don’t have to know all the answers, all you really need is to realize your own potential and protect that with all you have.
Our society has sold external validation as a means of happiness and prosperity, but I believe that’s what makes us the most unfulfilled. HOLD PLEASE is a call to action, lyrically, vocally, and sonically, and I can only hope it inspires listeners to have the courage to trust and love themselves and their gut.
Q: What effect would you like your music to have on listeners?
COLLIER: The effect my music has on listeners is out of my control, and that’s the most beautiful part about it. I can write a song from one place, and it could impact the listener in another way. What I want is for my music to inspire my listeners in a way that resonates with them. My music is so spiritually and emotionally charged, there are multiple layers to what it could mean depending on the individual. My only hope is that my music reminds the listener of something deep inside them they already knew, that could help them on their journey.
That is the beauty of music and I’m just grateful that I can share mine.
Q: In what way(s) do you think your sound and style have evolved since you began making music?
COLLIER: Like I said above, my music reflects what’s going on in my mind, so as I grow and change, so does my music. I started on acoustic guitar and my music was more acoustic pop-leaning. Once I started learning production and experimenting with styles that I loved, Hyperpop, Trap, and EDM, a lot changed. I am obsessed with the creation of the soundscape and tailoring to the message of the song.
That being said, the core of my music will always stay the same, and that’s the song. If the song speaks on one instrument, it will speak regardless.
Q: What is the best reaction you’ve ever gotten to your music?
COLLIER: It’s hard to say which reaction is the “best”, but it’s meant a lot to me to see people doing covers of my music on YouTube and Tiktok and making it their own. I know to put in the effort to learn a song, make it your own, and have the confidence to post means the song really spoke to the person. I also love receiving messages from listeners about how my songs have impacted them and how they relate. The fact my music could inspire that in people is the only reason why I do what I do!
Interviewed by Zoey King
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