Ellie Goulding: The Idolator Interview

Robbie Daw | August 12, 2011 6:00 am

Skylar Grey wasn’t the only pop luminary we sat down with at the the Lollapalooza artist lounge (which we co-sponsored along with Rock The Vote) last weekend — we also had a chat with one of our favorite UK artists to make a splash on these shores this year, “Lights” singer Ellie Goulding. The 24-year-old has been busy trekking across North America for the second time this year, where she made some stops along the way to perform on various TV shows.

“US fans are slightly more energetic,” Ellie said at Lollapalooza. “But generally, my audiences are really sweet and really lovely.” Funny, we could say the same thing about her! Watch our one-on-one with Ellie Goulding below. Ellie is no stranger to people having a strong reaction to her music. In addition to winning the BBC Sound Of 2010 poll two years ago, the singer from Herefordshire, England, clinched the Critics’ Choice Award at the BRITs in 2010, and saw her debut LP Lights shoot up the US iTunes chart following a stunning performance on Saturday Night Live this past spring.

Shortly after, she performed for royal couple Prince William and Kate Middleton at their wedding reception in late April.

“When people say that I’ve inspired them to become a musician or that I’ve gotten them through a really tough time at home — or with a partner or whatever — that’s really sweet, and I get that quite a lot,” Goulding told us.

Check out our interview with Ellie, where she also talked about the essential items she likes to have on hand while on tour, and Imogen Heap, Wild Beasts and the other artists who inspire her.

Did Ellie make you to want to hit the studio and record your own sure-to-be smash debut album? You’re going to need some instruments, so click here to enter to win a guitar signed by tons of Lollapalooaza artists!