Winter 2020Being Ellysse Mason

It’s been 10 years since Ellysse Mason was catapulted to local fame, winning a Rochdale talent show with her original self-written and performed track at just 14.

From recording her first EP in her bedroom in 2015, to her 2018 single ‘Hunt Me Down’ storming into the Spotify New Music Friday playlist top 10, there’s no doubt that Ellysse Mason is destined for great things.

2020 has been a productive year for the independent singer-songwriter, with two singles and videos already under her belt – plus a third in the works.

“I’ve released more singles this year than the past two-and-a-half years. I got a lot done over lockdown because I had time to sit down and work on my music,” she tells us. “Actually, you’ve rung me at the perfect time because I’ve just had a delivery – prototype t-shirts for merchandise! I want to do some socks as well, with ‘I Don’t Wanna Dance’ [the title of Ellysse’s most recent single] written on them.”

Ellysse describes her upcoming single [at the time of publication] Sweet Talkin’ as “floating through space” – just one of her admittedly unusual influences, as is her love of the 80s sound which she says is “the dawn of the feel-good era.”

“To me, it’s feeling like you can’t communicate and driving yourself insane. I had this image of floating through space and losing connection with Earth, with a full visual dreamscape – but I don’t know how I’ll execute that in a video!”

It sounds like Sweet Talkin’ could be a metaphor for 2020?

Ellysse thinks for a moment: “Absolutely. Being social isn’t my strong point – it can be exhausting, but I love expressing myself through music. It can be hard sometimes but putting it into song is a type of therapy. It’s a good outlet to have and I’m lucky to have found it.”

Originally from Syke, Ellysse, 24, moved to Manchester two years ago, where she is a regular on the live music circuit, having sold out headline shows at The Deaf Institute and Academy 3, in Manchester. She has also supported Tom Walker on his UK tour and featured at Off The Record (Manchester), as well as multiple live performances on BBC Introducing Manchester, Soho Radio and other local North West radio stations.

“I did my first live gig [since lockdown] on 11 October with other local artists. It was weird seeing people I’ve not seen for some time but it was such a breath of fresh air. I’ve always loved performing live, but I didn’t realise how much I missed it. Live shows and cover gigs are how a lot of us make our living, including myself.”

Ellysse is set to perform at a number of festivals next year – including Kendal Calling, as well as a festival in Norway headlined by Massive Attack, plus a tour of Poland in January.

She adds: “As far as I’m concerned, they’ve just been pushed back a year, but I’m really excited.”

Ellysse’s latest single Sweet Talkin’ is expected to be released in December 2020.