ELLUR TALKS GOD HELP ME NOW
"My whole life I was scared of feeling things"
Daniel John
What's the main theme of the ‘God Help Me Now’ EP?
I would say coming of age and public journaling. I wanted to take the tool of honesty and craft my emotions and feelings into something people might relate to. I guess the story is a glimpse into the struggles and ups and downs of my life so far, little bitesize-takes on my experiences that people can impress their own experiences onto.
How long have you been working on bringing it to life?
These songs were written in 2023, initially they were intended for my debut album but I felt the new material, in my opinion, was so different from the stuff I’d released already that I wanted to create the EP as a way of reintroducing myself to the world, before I release my album.
You might sing that you can’t really face the truth, but truth and honesty is something that’s been very recurring throughout your songwriting, you do not shy away from being open about moments that are, well, shit?
It’s a skill I’ve been tending to. For my whole life I was, unknowingly, so scared of feeling things. I’m really sensitive and absorbent to the world around me. I don’t know why but things affect me so intensely. I’ve read about it, I think it’s in my biology. It feels vulnerable, scary, and intoxicating to finally have a proper root around in my head and my gut and find things to write about. If it makes me feel something, then that’s usually a sign that it is right.
How aware are you of how a song you create might connect to the audience. Or is that something you try not to think about?
I’m glad people have been so receptive. It’s encouraging! My awareness depends on the day. Some days it’s all I can think about. Connection through music has played a big part in my life and it’s in my mission statement as an artist to connect with as many people as possible. Some days I just write songs for myself that I don’t plan on putting out. They usually end up being put out in the end though, 'Your Dog' being an example.
Your dad is a musician as well, have you always just had a lot of music and creativity around you from early on because of that familiarity?
I’ve always known I wanted to do this. It’s really really been the dream, ever since I can remember. It’s home to me because it’s what I grew up with. At gigs, festivals, backstage, pestering bands in the studio, singing backing-vocals for bands my dad worked with. It’s all I’ve really known. It’s an incredible privilege to have grown up in that environment, especially in a family that encourages music and creativity as a career. I would not be where I am without my family.
Are there any other artists that had a real big impact on you?
So many. I remember the first time I heard a 'Sex' by The 1975, and it absolutely changed my life. Coldplay, Wolf Alice, The La's, Dora Jar, Sam Fender, Sharon Van Etten, Radiohead, Big Thief are just a small number of my favourite artists. I cut my teeth as a songwriter, though, when I got an Adele-guitar chords book for Christmas when I was about thirteen or fourteen, I learnt all her songs on the piano and then used those chords to write my own songs. I had written many songs before that but these songs felt like real, proper songs (laughs).
What were they?
Pop ballads. You can’t beat a ballad.
In what creative space do you find yourself now after releasing this EP. Are you writing again or looking for what is next?
I mentioned it earlier but I am about to start recording my debut album. I’ve been in this really exciting world where I’ve been able to completely focus on the whole thing and bring to life my ideas, whether that be for videos, photo-shoots, staging for gigs, stagewear and makeup looks. I want to make all my own stage looks by hand as I’m really into knitting and sewing. I’ve got this sketchbook where I create moodboards, paint, plan and sketch all my ideas, and I’ve really loved exploring, over the years, what I want to do with music and the artist I want to be. I can not wait to bring it to life.
