Ellie Goulding

Ellie Goulding (born on December 30, 1986) leaped to fame in 2010 after her stylish and elegant pop style made her a critics favorite which swiftly transferred into mainstream pop success with the album Lights. Raised in Hereford on the border of England and Wales, she started playing clarinet and guitar as a child and went on to study drama at the University of Kent, where she also developed a deep interest in electronic music. Goulding quit university after two years to move to London and concentrate on music, releasing her debut single “Under the Sheets” (2009), which earned her a Critic’s Choice Award that same year. Shortly after, she released Lights (2010), a masterful blend of pop and electronica that topped the UK Albums Chart. Goulding also developed her reputation as an outstanding songwriter, collaborating on tracks for Gabriella Cilmi, Diana Vickers, and Tinie Tempah, supported John Mayer on a UK tour, and starred at various European and North American festivals. She followed up with Halcyon (2012), a more aggressive-sounding endeavor that peaked at Number 9 on Billboard’s 200 and garnered comparisons to the likes of Enya and Florence + the Machine. Following the release of the Grammy-nominated single “Love Me Like You Do,” which was featured in the Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack, Goulding aimed for the stars with Delirium (2015), her take on a more mainstream dance-pop record. The album was well-received by critics and audiences, reaching Number 3 on the Billboard 200 and obtaining platinum certification in countries like Norway, USA, and Mexico. Preceded by the singles “Close to Me” and “Flux,” the star-studded Brightest Blue saw the light in 2020, featuring some original compositions and collaborations with Blackbear, Diplo, and Juice Wrld. Brightest Blue became Ellie Goulding's third consecutive chart-topper in the UK and reached Number 29 on the Billboard 200. In 2022, she collaborated with rapper Big Sean on the single "Easy Lover," the lead single from her fifth studio effort, Higher Than Heaven. Originally scheduled for release in February 2023, the album finally hit the shelves in April of that year and doubled down on Ellie Goulding's love for electronic dance music, featuring production by Alok, Lostboy, Sigala, and Koz.