Page 30 - Real Rochdale Issue 09 Winter 2020

Being Ellysse Mason From recording her first EP in her bedroom well as multiple live performances on BBC
Introducing Manchester, Soho Radio and
in 2015, to her 2018 single ‘Hunt Me Down’
storming into the Spotify New Music Friday
other local North West radio stations.
playlist top 10, there’s no doubt that Ellysse
Mason is destined for great things. “I did my first live gig [since lockdown] on 11
October with other local artists. It was weird
2020 has been a productive year for the seeing people I’ve not seen for some time but
independent singer-songwriter, with two it was such a breath of fresh air. I’ve always
singles and videos already under her belt – loved performing live, but I didn’t realise how
plus a third in the works. much I missed it. Live shows and cover gigs
are how a lot of us make our living, including
“I’ve released more singles this year than the myself.”
past two-and-a-half years. I got a lot done
over lockdown because I had time to sit down Ellysse is set to perform at a number of
and work on my music,” she tells us. “Actually, festivals next year – including Kendal Calling,
you’ve rung me at the perfect time because as well as a festival in Norway headlined by
I’ve just had a delivery – prototype t-shirts Massive Attack, plus a tour of Poland in
for merchandise! I want to do some socks as January.
well, with ‘I Don’t Wanna Dance’ [the title of
Ellysse’s most recent single] written on them.” She adds: “As far as I’m concerned, they’ve
just been pushed back a year, but I’m really
Ellysse describes her upcoming single [at the excited.”
time of publication] Sweet Talkin’ as “floating
through space” – just one of her admittedly Ellysse’s latest single Sweet Talkin’ is expected
unusual influences, as is her love of the 80s to be released in December 2020.
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
It’s been 10 years since good outlet to have and I’m lucky to have

Ellysse Mason was found it.”

catapulted to local fame, Originally from Syke, Ellysse, 24, moved to
winning a Rochdale talent Manchester two years ago, where she is a
regular on the live music circuit, having sold
show with her original out headline shows at The Deaf Institute and

self-written and performed Academy 3, in Manchester. She has also
supported Tom Walker on his UK tour and
track at just 14. featured at Off The Record (Manchester), as Photo: Zak Chowdhury

31 REAL ROCHDALE - WINTER 2020
Photo: Joe McAdam