Introducing: Darren Ellis
Singer-songwriter Darren Ellis on genre-bending songs, guilty pleasures, and chasing perfection in the studio…
Darren Ellis has been writing and recording since his teens, balancing covers gigs with a steady stream of original material. With a new album, Space and Time, now out in the world, the Bradford-based musician talks about his journey so far, his musical indulgences, and why he’ll always be creating no matter who’s listening.
YOUR NAME:
Darren Ellis.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING MUSIC?
I’ve been writing and recording songs since I got my first electric guitar at the age of 15. I recorded my first solo album in 2015. Things got pretty quiet for a while but for a few notable singles, I never stopped writing however, and looking at a massive backlog of stuff I’ve made I decided I wanted to finish a bunch of songs I’ve been working on and release them as a cohesive album.
ANY PAST BANDS OR COLLABORATIONS WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?
I work in a duo called Ellis and Ashleigh with singer Laura Lox (Laura Ashleigh), and until recently I played as a guitarist in the jazz blues outfit Blind Pig Gang.
GIVE US 3 REASONS WHY WE SHOULD TRACK DOWN, LISTEN AND DISCOVER YOUR MUSIC?
Reason 1. I think there aren’t many people writing songs like I’m writing. Songs like ‘Trick on Myself’ or ‘Wisdom’ on my album would work very well as spoken word poetry. Sonically, I’m working with lots of different sounds, and I’m not afraid to experiment in genres or styles. I love musicianship, and I have some great guests playing on my album on the flute, sax, piano and organ. The guitars and harmonicas are all me.
Reason 2. I think there’s still time for people to be part of those who were listening early on. This is only my second album in 10 years. It’s fully self-produced and I’ve been taking my time to learn how to record and produce, just as much as I’ve been trying to hone my skills as a singer and a musician. From this point on I’m hoping to become a lot more prolific. (Hush hush but I’ve already got a next set of songs that I’m working on.)
Reason 3. The third reason is because I would be very happy and very grateful if you did!
WHERE DO YOU SOUND BEST – FESTIVAL, CLUB, BEDROOM – OR SOMEWHERE ELSE?
I’ve been working as a covers singer for years, I’ve done effectively paid rehearsals playing in bars with no-one in, to big stages playing for hundreds of people. Everywhere I play I do nothing but give 100% and that includes at home while I’m rehearsing. I’m at the point now though, where as much as I love all the gigs, the thrill I get from playing original material is the best. Right now it’s back to just me and an acoustic guitar, but I think in some ways with this album, though it’s self-produced, you can hear how I’d like it to sound when I finally get the backing band I need behind me.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST (PURCHASED)?
Record: The first record I bought was a Prince record for my cousin for his birthday.
CD: The first CD I got was probably a single by Blink 182, who were practically an obsession of mine as a teenager.
Download: I sincerely can’t remember, but I’ll guess ‘Teenage FBI’ by Guided by Voices.
SO, WHEN IT ALL GOES RIGHT AND YOU’VE GOT A BOTTOMLESS PIT OF MONEY AND LONG QUEUE OF HANGERS-ON, WHAT WILL BE YOUR BIGGEST MUSICAL INDULGENCE?
I am in love with having as much time as I need to get things to sound how I want them to sound. When I’m crafting songs I might create a funky bass line and realise how now, I need to change my drum pattern. So that being said, having my own recording studio would be a real dream come true. I love programming drums, but really I know you can’t beat real drums. I’d love to have my own studio with my own drum kit inside, as well as obviously the guitars, amplifiers etc. I love recording in the studio, but I’d also love the liberty of having as much time in there as I need to get things right – if I have my own studio it’s problem solved!
SO, WHEN IT ALL GOES WRONG AND YOU’RE LEFT BITTER AND TWISTED AND CURSING THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, WHAT DO YOU FALL BACK ON?
Honestly I think I’ve already felt all of those feelings and got the T-Shirt. As a younger man I very much felt like the world was against me when I didn’t get what I wanted. Growing up a little and moving past that I’ve since realised that I wasn’t half as good as maybe I thought I was. I’ve spent the past 5 years or so trying to catch up with how good I think I ought to be. As long as I’m still learning, still growing I realise now it’s not the destination but it’s the journey. At 37 years old, when I’m still trying my very best to write the best songs, to be the best guitarist, and be the best singer, even if no-one’s listening I realise that I’m doing it because inside of me there’s a passion for it, that’s not necessarily bothered whether anyone’s tuning in. Hopefully they do. But for now I’m resigned to the fact that I’ll be making music right up til the end, regardless.
WHAT ARE YOUR MUSICAL GUILTY PLEASURES?
My musical confession is that if I had to, I could listen to a compilation CD of The Police’s greatest hits as the only CD I ever heard until the end of time, and I’d be completely okay with it. Guilty pleasure: Wicked soundtrack.
WHO (OTHER THAN YOURSELF, NATURALLY) ARE YORKSHIRE’S FINEST IN CULTURE, SPORT AND MUSIC?
Bradford City of Culture, Bradford City AFC, Bradford Bulls, Bradford’s music scene.
NAME YOUR SUPERGROUP – WHO’S PLAYING WHAT, WHO’S ON VOCALS AND WHO’S YOUR BEZ?
Sting on Bass/vox. Phil Collins on Drums/vox. Elton John on Piano/vox. Clapton on Guitar/vox. It would either be the best band of all time, or completely unlistenable.
QUICKFIRE ANSWERS PLEASE:
Go see this film: Superman wasn’t bad.
Go read this book: Ecclesiastes.
Great lost band/artist: Sting is the best artist of all time. The Police the best band.
Wouldn’t be caught dead supporting: The 1975.
London, L.A or Leeds?: London.
AND FINALLY… AS YOU LEAVE THE STAGE, WHAT ARE YOUR PARTING WORDS?
Thank you so much, see you again soon, goodnight!
Space and Time, the bold new self-produced album by singer-songwriter Darren Ellis, is out now on all major streaming platforms.
facebook.com/darrenellismusic and instagram.com/darrenjamesellis
Images: Nigel H. Bain
