In Conversation with Music Star Ellie Goulding

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."

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.

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.

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.