Music: Elli Ingram

Brighton girl Elli Ingram is Sober….

With the likes of Adele paving the way for a renaissance in classy singers, it’s good to see the likes of new girl Elli Ingram taking up the baton, adding a twist of R’n’B sass and hip-hop smarts to the mix. With her brilliant take on Kendrick Lamar’s Poetic Justice making waves earlier last year via the internet, she then released the excellent Sober EP, a six track collection that showcased her crisp voice, razor-sharp lyrics and eye-catching style, along with the tasty production work of various collaborators.

With a career in textiles in her mind, it was only when at college that she fully explored her voice, joining an all-girl band, which perhaps saved her from a life of just hanging out….”I spent most of my youth down the park with my mates,” she has said. But she found that she had a gift for singing and writing, the lyrics being a vital element to the project. “So many songs just talk about s*** and I hate it… If I try and write something I can’t relate to it’s just a mess” And so it’s not surprising to find that her lyrics are very personal narratives that hold few punches.

Visually too, Ingram seems a natural, helped along by some of the most arresting pop imagery, in particular the fantastic video that accompanies the track Mad Love, and accompanying artwork for the Sober EP, both playfully freestyling on the fact of Ingram’s working class/suburban background, whilst yearning for life on the other side of the tracks… ‘Mad Love’, ‘Intoxicated’, ‘Sober’… those titles alone should give you the notion that she’s finding her way in the world, and it’s going to be a crazy ride.

Before she met up with producers Felix Joseph and Rudi Redz, Elli was mainly singing in a stripped back fashion, with maybe a guitar or piano for accompaniment. And if you can find any of those videos on the net, you’ll hear what a pure talent she is, at ease with her voice, a powerful yet tender instrument that she has already mastered. But working with talented producers has been a seamless transition for Elli, and with the added skills of these sound architects pop stardom is surely beckoning. “I write a lot of lyrics when I’m alone so I will bring them into the studio. But I also like to write whilst Fe and Ast (Rudi) are building the beat as it can help spark inspiration,” she has said.

With a touring experience with dance music superstars Chase & Status, and a MOBO nomination for Best Newcomer among the other highlights of 2013, it looks like a very promising future for our Elli.
Tues 11 February, Bermuda Triangle, 7pm, £8

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