(Originally published in the May 2013 issue of Status Magazine)
Singer-songwriter ELLIE GOULDING is breaking every barrier.With the release of her second album, Halcyon, she once again exposes herself to a new world, and embraces the unknown willingly.
“Between the songs is the time when I suddenly go back to reality and I realize it’s just me again.”
“Can I be on the cover?” It was an innocent question Ellie Goulding asked. The electro-dance music princess stood there, with her neck tilted casually in a very I-have-nothing-to lose stance. At this point, we would like to cue her song, “Anything Could Happen” to play over the speakers.
It’s Ellie’s first concert in Asia, and she’s doing this interview in between her other TV interviews and a sound check for her sold out concert in Singapore, “I’ve done so many shows that you end up being sometimes on autopilot. But doing a show like tonight is different.” It’s a sign of how far she’s come, stepping into the Asia circuit, after years of performing in the UK and America.
With all the possibilities being realized, her catchy, repetitive “Anything Could Happen” chant is set to be this year’s motto of hopefulness. We hear this song everywhere—it has been covered by the Glee cast, performed at Simon Cowell’s X Factor, was featured on the trailer of HBO’s Girls, and accompanied a Beats by Dre commercial. It is part of her second album, Halcyon, a title that refers to the mythical bird that has the power to calm the seas. Considering the context of this album’s creation, the title makes sense—Ellie has openly referred to this release as a break-up album following her split with BBC Radio 1 DJ Greg James.
Out of devastation emerges this brilliant work of art; Ellie’s lyrics are real, her voice is filled with emotion, her sound is mature, her message is wise. It’s the type that covers both the realities of heartache and the need for hope into one intertwined story, “I could be very self-indulgent and I could be a lot more expressive with the things that I write about, but I make sure that I say what I need to say to get across,” she says.
Ellie names Björk as one her main inspirations for breaking out of her shell, “She’s another artist who stopped me from being afraid of anything. I associate her music strongly also with feeling lonely and feeling like I had no one to talk to. I felt like there was something that I wanted to do but didn’t know what it was, and it turns out it was writing. It was sort of in me, but I didn’t know how to get it out. She just took me to another world with her music and it’s what I needed at the time.” Another influence in writing was Pearl Jam, “They got me through a lot of stuff when I was in my teenage years. I had new ways to discover things about myself and what kind of person that I was. I suppose it made me realize I could write a lot more emotionally than I ever had, and I shouldn’t be afraid of being honest.”
It’s not easy showing the world your wounds, but Ellie is a brave soul who chooses to be honest to her music rather than prettify her image, “At first it used to really bother me and irritate me, and I didn’t like people judging my music. It’s very hard for you to take when people don’t know your personal story and then they judge your music so easily. But that can be quite tough.” Ellie doesn’t care about looking perfect, but she does care about being herself, and the criticism she can get is just part of the job, “It comes with the territory. If you release stuff into the public, then you ask for it, really.”
“Music is being in the right time and place, following your instincts, and accepting something is meant to be.”
Ellie was discovered after winning a college singing competition, and was signed to Polydor records. But her love for music started when she was a little girl, playing the guitar and clarinet, and obsessively singing along to the radio. “It was dance music that made me want to sing,” she shares. “I grew up to electro music. My mom used to listen to it a lot and it just always seemed to be dance music playing in my house all the time. It was always drummed into me at a young age.”
Before her album officially debuted, she won both the BBC Sound of 2010 poll and Critics’ Choice Award at the BRIT awards (with Adele being the only other artist to win both awards in 2008). So did Ellie live up to her pre-album hype? Yes.
Her first album, Lights, got the top spot at the UK albums chart and her cover of Elton John’s “Your Song” also made it to the number 2 spot in the UK. Her success from Lights has brought her to several music festivals; tours with John Mayer, Passion Pit, and Katy Perry; and, most notably, invitations to perform for Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding reception, and the National Christmas Tree ceremony.
You would think she would be quite nervous going through all these performances, but Ellie does own her own onstage alter ego, “I am very different now than what I am on stage. I am still very shy in between songs,” she says. In fact, she is very soft-spoken in real life, “I think between the songs is the time where I suddenly go back to reality and I realize it’s just me again. Whereas, in the songs, I do lose myself quite a lot.”
Ellie is exploring what else she is capable of doing, “There was a world of stuff I could have done after Lights, and I chose Jim just because we made a couple of songs together and I absolutely loved him. I asked him if he wanted to do the record with me.” She is referring to Jim Eliot (of British electro pop group Kish Mauve who produced and co-wrote several of her songs on Halcyon.) “I wanted to see what would happen if I worked with someone new. I feel like I could work with someone new everyday and something entirely different would happen. You just have to make a decision there and then, and trust your instincts,” she says. “That’s why music is so crazy, because it’s literally being in the right time and place and following your instincts and kind of accepting, maybe, something is meant to be.”Her openness to collaborations have resulted in new material with Skrillex (who she also dated briefly last year), and Calvin Harris for another EDM favorite, “I Need Your Love.”
If it’s not obvious by now, this “Anything Could Happen” attitude seems to run through a lot of Ellie’s recent creative decisions. While this song holds the flag for positivity, the music video makes us question twice, “The song has such positive connotation. It’s so happy on the outside, but I wanted the video to convey something a bit darker.” The video tells the story of a couple, Ellie and her onscreen boyfriend, watching the waves when a car suddenly slams into them. How’s that for an “Anything Could Happen” scenario? It ends with the couple reuniting on the beach, but in their next life. While you’re saying WTF in your seats, Ellie explains the meaning behind the madness, “There’s a darker side to fate as well. I could have easily done a really happy video, but I wanted to show that you need to make the most of everything.”
Story by Victoria Herrera
Images courtesy of MCA Music
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@elliegoulding
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By Victoria Herrera (Published January 22, 2013 on statusmagonline.com)
IVY KIRZHNER greets me with a warm, friendly hug as I enter her suite at the Empire Hotel. We are in New York, where this Filipina shoe designer beams with eager excitement for her big moment—she is launching her very first shoe line.
“I have always been cognizant of my eclectic worldview which never really had yet a chance to come out to full fruition aesthetically in my work until now.”
Set up all around the suite is her collection, consisting of Art Deco-inspired heels, flats, and sandals for Spring/Summer 2013. Definitely something for the “Girly girls,” the collection is extremely wearable and a work of art on its own. It is evident that Kirzhner has global influences. “Being a Philippine-born and New York City-bred American designer who constantly travels throughout Europe and Asia, I have always been cognizant of my eclectic worldview which never really had yet a chance to come out to full fruition aesthetically in my work until now,” she says.
This talented and humble artist has designed shoes in the global shoe industry for over ten years. “I am currently the Creative Director of Footwear for all BCBG brands, as well as the designer of Herve Leger footwear at the Camuto Group.” She has launched over 25 international and contemporary shoe brands like Dolce Vita and BCBG Max Azria. Yet despite her long experience, she is embarking on a whole new adventure. She says, “Earlier this year, I finally launched my own design and lifestyle branding house called Saint & Libertine New York LLC with my own eponymous contemporary-luxury line.”
“…a great designer needs to be able to take on any brand, find a way to relate to its perspective, create amazing designs, and progress with the times while staying true to the brand’s DNA.”
The decision for her to bravely create her own line seemed organic, “I won’t deny that I’ve always wanted to have one just to test and push my growth further as a designer and an entrepreneur. I’ve always been cognizant of the direction of my creative and career growth.” And speaking of growth, that is one of Kirzhner’s challenges when it comes to design. “Though I have always managed to be versatile as a designer, where I am in life has its way of manifesting through my work. I need to be able to relate to my designs and my product,” she says. “However, a great designer needs to be able to take on any brand, find a way to relate to its perspective, create amazing designs, and progress with the times while staying true to the brand’s DNA. This is incredibly hard to do for any growing designer.” With mentors from Steve Madden, Dolce Vita, and Vince Camuto grooming her, Kirzhner is very grateful for the people who taught her a lot about the industry and craft. “They are all very different from each other, each representing a certain facet of the business… The one thing that ties them together is each of their own passion for shoes and for the business… I could only hope to make all of them proud with what I do.”
“There’s no need to rush.”
Kirzhner keeps herself inspired by surrounding herself with the right people: “Good people who are incredibly kind, self-sacrificing, dedicated, passionate, generous and humble,” she says. From her husband, to her business partner and even down to her interns, “I’m in awe with all of them and people like them inspire me to work even harder—they’re worth all the effort as well as all the best out of me.”
For up-and-coming shoe designers, Kirzhner has this to say, “The only path is through focus and genuine passion for what you do. Part of that is learning all the facets of the industry and challenging and pushing your self daily to grow and become even better.” She also stresses patience. “There’s no need to rush.”
“If there are rules, learn to break them…”
We can take one look at Kirzhner’s designs to see proof that she is the real thing. This brand is an honest expression of Kirzhner’s artistic soul combined with her skilled training. Already gaining much appreciation by worldwide retailers, her designs will be sold in boutiques like Kitson in LA, Havery Nichols, and online store Shopbop. She will also be collaborating with more designers under her Saint & Libertine Company with jewelry and handbag projects in the works. She is definitely an inspiration to watch as she continues to grow in the global fashion scene.
Favorite Art “eras” which inspire your work:
1) Art Deco- it’s the reinterpretation of ancient aesthetic of Neo-Classical, Greco-Roman, Egyptian and Aztec origins, culminating into a modern movement that influenced not only art, but also fashion, architecture and industrial design in all parts of the world. Also, New York’s own rich aesthetic reached its height during this era.
2) Baroque and Rococo, especially Chinoiserie – the mixture of Western and Eastern design elements that sprung during that era. They all have fun stylistic elements that I love to play and incorporate into designs.
Favorite places you love to travel to:
Paris, Florence, London.
Top 3 rules for style:
1) There are no rules.
2) If there are rules, learn to break them so you can… (jump to #3)
3) Be original in expressing yourself.
ivykirzhner.com
@ivykirzhner
Interview and story by Victoria Herrera
Profile photo courtesy of Ivy Kirzhner
Product photos by Victoria Herrera
