Ellie Goulding

Ellie Goulding is touring with John Mayer and Bruno Mars. She appears in Taylor Swift's music video (track: Bad Blood). The British singer has sold 27 million albums and 216 million singles. Her songs have been streamed 43 million times. These impressive statistics clearly establish Ellie Goulding as one of the most successful British artists of the past 20 years. 

She was born Elena Jane Goulding on December 30, 1986. She grew up in an environment she later described as distinctly "poor." Music captured her heart from an early age. She played clarinet and guitar and wrote her first songs at 15. After studying Drama and Theatre at the University of Kent, she had already developed so well as a singer and composer that she was offered a recording contract. Her debut single, "Under the Sheets," was released in 2009 and brought the young singer her first attention.

Along with successful (television) performances, this laid the foundation for the success of her debut album, Lights – later released with bonus tracks as Bright Lights. It featured hits like "Starry Eyed," "Lights," and the Elton John cover "Your Song." Her voice, combined with refined pop and dance, proved a winning formula. This built upon the success. The album, Halcyon (later re-released as Halcyon Days), included the hit "Burn." Ellie Goulding scored a hit in 2015 with "Love Me Like You Do," which she recorded for the soundtrack of the film Fifty Shades of Grey.

For personal reasons, Ellie Goulding took it easy from 2016 to 2020, but with the album Brightest Blue, she effortlessly picked up the thread again. The liberating album features hits like Worry About Me, Power, and Slow Granade – the latter featuring a guest appearance by American artist Lauv. Brightest Blue, like her previous albums, shot to the top of the UK album chart. The distinctive dance album Higher Than Heaven was released in 2023. She announced two albums for 2025: a deeply personal work and a classically oriented album. Ellie Goulding appears to be in a good creative flow.