Portraits

In Conversation with Music Star Ellie Goulding

The British singer-songwriter not only has a new album soaring at the top of the charts but also sports a fresh conscious aesthetic, earning her a nomination for the 2024 Grammy Awards.

publication adult female person woman magazine

Text & Styling GIORGIA CANTARINI
Photography LEE MALONE

Whether she admits it or not, Ellie Goulding is a pop music icon. Who hasn't hummed the “Love me like you do” soundtrack to “Fifty Shades of Grey”? After two BRIT Awards, two Glamor Awards, numerous Grammy nominations, a Golden Globe nomination, the BMI President's Award for his seminal contribution to music and more than 23 billion streams, 18 million albums sold, multiple platinum albums, the English singer-songwriter launched her fifth album, “ Higher than Heaven ”, which is already cult, in April. Outside of music, Ellie is a long-time activist and philanthropist, using her platform to engage young people in global issues and raise awareness of the climate crisis. In addition to her work with the United Nations as a global environmental ambassador, she recorded a TED talk on the climate crisis and attended COP 27 in 2022 with a speech on marine pollution, and her 2021 tour was carbon neutral . «I keep all my old tour clothes that I will transform into new outfits. With my stylist we borrow clothes, often from sustainable and emerging brands."

Oversized jacket, trousers and shoes, BALENCIAGA; ring, PIANEGONDA.

L'OFFICIEL: What is the concept of your latest album released in April 2023?
ELLIE GOULDING: Honestly no concept. It's an album of pop songs that I wrote after having my first child. I didn't want to do anything emotionally draining and at the same time I wanted to go back to my pop roots. The album has songs to move you to, songs you can dance to, songs to listen to in the background. After the post-pandemic dark times I don't think anyone wanted to sit and agonize over some relationship or drama. The love on the record is almost like a drug-induced feeling. It's a hyper-love: artificial but when you're in it, you're in it. However, there is always the risk of failure. I worked with Koz, who is inspired by 70s music, a lot of disco music, using a lot of different guitar chords. When I imagine the album in my head I imagine people dancing on a different planet. It's a place where everyone is in love and everyone is joyful. It's a big dance party.

Embroidered shirt, LOEWE; earring with stud, PIANEGONDA.

LOI: What's the best collaboration you've done so far?
EG: My favorite collaboration is the one with Calvin Harris for the song “Miracle” (nominated for the 2024 Grammys as Best Pop Dance Recording, ed.), his songs always have such vitality and such a pop sensitivity, which has not been achieved from other DJs. I've always wanted to make music with James Blake and Boy Wonder, who works with Drake because I feel like we would do something really unusual. And I've already been sampled by Drake with “Higher.” I've been sampled by a few rappers, so why not try to do something different in the future? Or even get in touch with some classical music producers, like Oliver Arnolds, who lives in Iceland. I would really like to compose a piece of classical music.

Short double-breasted jacket and trousers, GUCCI.

« I love being in the   nature. We are inextricably linked to nature and   I think when we lose that connection , we really lose ourselves."

Top, trousers, duster, shoes and jewellery, GENNY. Throughout the diamond earrings service, Ellie's own

LOI: Fun moments on stage from your recently concluded tour?
EG: There are always funny moments. Lately my fans are so lovely and shout to communicate with me. They shout “mother,” or “queen,” “exceptional.” I love that they are cheeky, funny and humorous and that they support me in everything I do. In addition to the funny moments there are also the embarrassing ones, I remember falling, playing the guitar out of tune, but I don't know if anyone noticed. I hope not!

Double-breasted jacket, STELLA McCARTNEY; rings, BIJULES; cuissardes, JIMMY CHOO
Dévoré knitted shirt and overalls, GENNY; booties; CASADEI.

LOI: You said you had mental health issues in the past, how did you overcome them?
EG: I have always struggled and struggle every day with my mental health. There are days when I wake up feeling calm, others when anxiety prevails and I immediately have to do something to change my mood. If I'm stressed I might feel sick, have palpitations or I might start sweating. I like helping people, I care a lot about the world, and I think all this resides in my brain, and I often end up stuck in the past and also in the future and I find it difficult to be in the present. Then I try to undertake activities that keep me anchored to the now, like going for a walk. I love being in nature. We are inextricably linked to nature and I think when we lose that connection, we truly lose ourselves. In fact, if we feel lost, it is nature that we must turn to to love ourselves again. The arrival of my son was important, I really like spending time with him, he brings me joy. Then there is the sensorial aspect, the calming power of perfumes.

Jacket with feathers, neoprene skirt and sunglasses, PRADA.

LOI: What is your relationship with fashion? Is responsible fashion a topic close to your heart?
EG: I love fashion! My favorites at the moment are Acne Studios, as well as Stella McCartney. I like to support sustainable and emerging brands because I find it crucial in the current state. I must say, however, that in the past I had problems with fashion, I had the feeling that nothing suited me. Being very active as a person, I was very focused on sportswear (she was an ambassador for Nike, ed.) and in particular running. In any case, over the years there have been important moments experienced on red carpets, at parties or at events. And, you know, I felt really good about myself, I felt powerful and invincible. I think certain outfits can have this effect on you. And if that's how they make you feel, then you should always choose fashion brands that embrace you in all your facets. I believe there are, at least for me, a whole series of brands that can highlight my masculine side, my feminine side - just like in this shoot. How we dress and how we feel at that moment makes a difference to our productivity and how we manage our day.

Suit and shoes, DIOR; shirt, GIADA; rings, BIJULES. Throughout the diamond earrings service, Ellie's own

LOI: Did you have difficulties at the beginning, was it difficult to establish yourself as a female artist, did you suffer any discrimination because of this?
EG: At first I had difficulties and suffered different treatment as a female artist. I wouldn't say discrimination. I would simply say that there was a definite balance between male and female artists, and female artists felt like they had to work a little harder. They felt like they had to really fight for what they wanted, whereas the male artist could have a voice and songs and just sign a record deal no matter what he wore, no matter what he looked like. But for a woman, there were more and more questions about how we look and what we wear and our weight and our hair. And this has always been the case, I think it is less so now and that one is appreciated based on one's talent.

Double-breasted blazer, satin culottes, patent leather boots with DG heels and rings; DOLCE & GABBANA

«When I imagine the album in my head I imagine people dancing on a different planet. It's a place where everyone is in love and everyone is joyful. It's a big dance party."

HAIR Anastasia Stylianou @ ARCH DE AGENCY
MAKE UP Hila Karmand @ ARCH DE AGENCY
LIGHTING ASSISTANT Jake Milsom
PHOTO ASSISTANT Lui Carrasco
DIGITAL TECH Julia Eskell
STYLIST ASSISTANTS Federica Mele and Klara Sladkova
Special thanks to Lottie Lander and Carl Fysh @SATELLITE414

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