Written by Becca Kathleen
Cover photo by Yana Van Nuffel
Press photos by Artist Theory
Critically acclaimed pop icon Nieve Ella has just released her debut, no skip album, ‘How Long Will It Take?’. The 23 year-old has previously released several EPs, 11 stand alone singles and is only getting better, her latest release shows just that.
After supporting the likes of inhaler, girl in red, and dylan, ella now embarks on her headline album tour next year across the UK and EU. With accreditation from Rolling Stone, and 20 million Spotify streams, it is to no surprise that Nieve Ella is on an upwards trajectory.
The solo artist communicates feminine rage through her honest, raw lyricism, blended with striking alternative, indie pop and rock influences, such as; Wolf Alice, Beabadoobee, Wet Leg, and The Last Dinner Party.
Album background
"I want to create a sound that people aren’t listening to yet."
The ‘coming of age’ inspired release, navigates the pressure Ella faces in society, leaving her questioning ‘How Long Will It Take?’ The artist had one visual imagine throughout her entire writing process, a staircase representing the stair case to success and finding ones self. Ella states:
"I feel like I’m on one never ending set of stairs and I don’t know how long its going to take me to get to the top."
‘How Long Will It Take?’ is most likely one of the most relatable releases to date, exploring the idea of anxiety and insecurity in a way that makes you want to listen to the album in full all over again. The album acts as a reminder of being human, and the struggles we face when trying to gain success.
Produced by the likes Jamie Rendle, Matt Colton and Alan Moulder, Ella’s debut highlights creative chaos and moments of musical intrigue, once again leaving the listener craving more of her.
TRACK BY TRACK
101
‘101’ acts as an introduction for this era of Nieve Ella, setting the tone of the overall release. The smooth opening leads into layered vocals you can’t quite determine at first, then transitioning into Ella repeating the words:
'TV Falling’
The lyrics of the track emphasise alternative artists feelings of her brain being similar to that of a TV, will a range of thoughts and emotions that are about to fall to the floor. The smooth transitioning tune then leads into a slow warp highlighting its end and the controlled chaos that is to come.
Drive
Ella’s first single from the album ‘Drive’ acts as a representation of one of her previous musical influences, Sam Fender. The song resonates with the idea of independence and Ella taking control within her life exploring cutting emotional ties and navigating the pressure of holding onto somebody who is simply holding you back. The song emphasises the courage it takes to let go, and the solo singer did just that through her honest lyricism.
‘'I've got the key’s / I’m the driver'
Produced by Jamie Rendle, hard-hitting tune ‘Drive’ simply states ‘Cold Feet’ taking a tongue-in-cheek approach which balances her emotional honesty.
'You wanna talk, talk, talk and blah, blah, blah.’
Standing On A Pane Of Glass
One of the most guitar driven songs on the release, single ‘Standing On A Pane Of Glass’ illustrates Ella’s metaphorical approach to songwriting even further delving into the feeling of ‘being on thin ice’ with the artist herself describing it as ‘feeling like there is no way out’ of a situation.
Falling into a heavy kick drum for the breakdown of the tune, a feeling of fragility, anxiousness and being stuck is communicated through it’s heavy production and instrumentals.
Romance Is A Desert
The most popular release ‘Romance Is A Desert’ truly drives the whole message of the album. Unlike previous releases, infamous track acts as a fun communication of the feeling of being trapped.
The song contradicts itself, with strong riffs and vocals that could be compared to that of a love song, when asked about the release, the artist went on to say;
‘I imagine ‘You quench my thirst with your tongue in my mouth’ and its so sexy but there’s a snapshot of worry in my eyes – it’s almost like a horror movie.’
Ellas lyricism goes on to be one that is truly memorable, understanding the feeling of doubt within a relationship, the type that can be romantic but also a curse in disguise. Moreover, the ‘desert’ metaphor further communicates the feeling of being ‘trapped’ as if there is no where to trun to, similar to the conditions of a desert.
Bite Back
The single recites the story of two people who have wronged the artist. She leads the tune with self-assurance, although hides a deep insecurity in regards to the situation she has endured. Through the sharp-edged, guitar driven tune, Ella turns the humiliation and frustration she once felt into a alternative, indie-pop ballad emphasising the power of standing up for yourself.
At Any Cost
The last single of the album, a mid-tempo dance pop anthem uses raw lyricism and relatability as the record continues, with Ella communicating the messy, self-sabotaging and vulnerable parts of herself when in love.
'They talk about how I feel in my current relationship, and friendships – I know that I take myself out on people and I’m not helping myself by doing that.’
It is clear that many people can relate to the way that Ella feels within these songs, already having 50,000 Spotify streams and the release is just continuing to grow. The raw, humanity of the record really makes it one of note, especially this single.
Angie
The next song, ‘Angie’ is a mix between a ballad, and pop track sharing the loss, grief and memory of a friend who’s no longer living, something deeply vulnerable in comparison to her previous rock, feminine rage driven edge.
‘How am I supposed to love you when you're on the other side.’
‘Angie’ is a song conveying deep heartbreak, although can be interpreted like that of a ballad. The diversity of the tune is truly what makes it one to come back to. Nieve Ella has mastered the idea of conveying your real life experiences into something that can be remembered for years to come.
Love:Hate
'Harder to love me’
The album keeps coming back to a range of topics that are deemed deeply relatable, including that of the feeling of being hard to love, another one of Ella’s most vulnerable.
The glitchy electro-pop ballad is similar to ‘At Any Cost’ in terms of emotional stance. ‘Love:Hate’ reflects the tension and dependency felt in a relationship which coincides with a consistent push and pull. Through the use of digital production and prominent synthesizers, the artist communicates her most vulnerable within a new genre of songwriting altogether.
IM NOT DEAD
‘IM NOT DEAD’ captures the shift from being severely overwhelmed with little hope, to living from day to day. The layered vocals paired with anthemic guitars convey the pressure of society on oneself.
Back to Basics
Trying, failing and accepting the damage that comes along with it perfectly describes ‘Back To Basics’ , Ella wanted to convey how:
'Artists are normal people that love and hate and feel so much, and I wrote that song to make it clear.’
The tune with the rock and roll edge gravitates towards the fact that artists are people too, and the humanity in not being perfect. There is a beauty in Ella’s ability to write about the feeling of imperfection we as humans all resonate with.
How Long Will It Take?
‘How long will it take?’ leads as the songs final plea of asking ‘how long will it take to change?’ The title track ballad, spirals into the chaos of wondering when change with truly come. Whether that be in terms of success or personal aspirations, the work of Nieve Ella asks the questions we’ve all once asked.
Final Thoughts
If not mentioned previously, Nieve Ella’s debut album acts as one we can all relate to, navigating the feelings of love, push & pull and letting go.
Nieve Ella doesn’t aim to communicate perfection, instead the pop artist aims to be transparent in her writing, highlighting to audiences that it will be okay in the end. Through the release, Ella emphasises she doesn’t have the answers in life, she’s navigating it just like the rest of us, and her raw, artistic expression of being human is truly memorable.