It’s been 10 long years in the making but singer-songwriter Ella Eyre is back and better than ever on her second studio album, everything, in time.
Since signing with a record label at the age of 17, Ella has had a whirlwind journey in the music industry. She first made a name for herself as a vocalist on a string of dance hits including ‘Waiting All Night’ with Rudimental, ‘Gravity’ with DJ Fresh, plus ‘Came Here For Love’ and ‘Just Got Paid’ with Sigala. Alongside this, she released her own material including her brilliant debut album Feline back in 2015.
However, during lockdown Ella needed surgery on her vocal cords which left her needing to relearn how to speak. Alongside this, she parted ways with her former label, took her masters, and started again. Now, 10 years after her debut album, Ella returns with everything, in time and it feels as if she’s never been away.
The 15-track album is a cohesive body of work which truly cements Ella’s vision as an artist. An intoxicating blend of soul, R&B, and retro funk, the album is full of emotion, vulnerability, and her distinct powerhouse vocals. Previous releases ‘hell yeah’, ‘domino szn’ and ‘high on the internet’ featuring Jay Prince gave fans a taste of what to expect, and the hits just keep on coming as you listen to the album in its entirety.
Ella sets the tone with opener ‘everything, in time’, which sums up her intensions from the beginning. This was the last track to be written for the album, but is the perfect way to begin this sonic journey as it encapsulates where Ella is right now and reintroduces us to this brilliant artist. ‘head in the ground’ featuring Tiggs Da Author and ‘high on the internet’ featuring Jay Prince ramp up the groove and mark the only collaborations on the album, with the rappers adding their flow to proceedings.
‘domino szn’ is filled with a gorgeous RnB groove whilst ‘diamonds’ up the tempo on the record, as she searches for someone who’s going to make her heart skip a beat and add sparkle to her life. Heartbreak is a recurring theme on the album, with ‘red flags & love hearts’ calling out bad behaviour in a former flame. One of the highlights of the album, the track is darker in tone as she questions why red flags present themselves as signs of love instead. It leads into ‘that shit hurts’, where she continues to get vulnerable about the mysteries of love when a relationship ends.
Whilst the album is predominantly RnB infused, there are experimental elements throughout especially on ‘kintsugi’ and ‘ain’t no love that blind’, which are both atmospheric and different to Ella’s usual style. Both tracks are electrifying in their own way and it’s fun to see the singer-songwriter continue to delve into a slightly darker sound. This theme continues on ‘what about me’, a self-love anthem as Ella rightfully realises that after years of prioritising others, that she needs to put herself first for once.
This leads into ‘little things’, a breezy Sunday morning-style track where Ella addresses that sometimes all that matters in life is the small things, especially when everything else feels like it’s weighing you down. In contrast, ‘hell yeah’ is a huge singalong anthem which sees Ella embracing some of the questionable choices she’s made. The contrast between both of these tracks is stark but acts as a reminder that life is messy and that no journey is linear.
On ‘loverman’, Ella delves into the self-love theme of ‘what about me’ with the artist claiming independence – she doesn’t need a man tonight. The track is laced with brass elements, which continues into the bold ‘space’ which impacts from the off with its big brass opening. The track is an empowering ‘f*** you’ to someone, as Ella draws a line underneath a past situation in a humorous manner.
The album comes to a close with the gorgeous ‘rain in heaven – demo’, a gentle, vulnerable offering which really sums up the sentiment of the album. The track cements that life doesn’t always go the way you want or expect it to, and whilst ‘paradise ain’t what it seems’, the journey you take will make you stronger than you can ever imagine.
everything, in time is an irresistible no-skip record and its power lies in its ability to make you lose yourself in the captivating melodies and Ella’s rich vocals. The album serves as the perfect reintroduction to Ella Eyre – a young woman who, despite all of the challenges she’s faced, stands stronger and bolder than before. The album is the embodiment of ‘good things come to those who wait’, and Ella’s only just getting started.
everything, in time is out now.
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