June 29, 2023 • 30 mins
Celebrating her smash “No Sleep” w Regard hitting #1, Ella Henderson shares how the song was born! Plus how her latest smash “0800 Heaven” was born w Nathan Dawe & Joel Corry!!
Ella also takes on #FinkysFirsts!
Find out about:
Follow: @AmericasDance30 on all socials!
Count down the biggest dance songs in the country every week with Brian Fink on America’s Dance 30; listen on dance stations around the world!
AmericasDance30.com
Ella also takes on #FinkysFirsts!
Find out about:
- the first thing she wanted to be growing up
- the first song she wrote
- her Angel Card for the day
- the first show she ever did
- the first thing that makes her lose sleep
- the first song that made her fall in love w dance music
Follow: @AmericasDance30 on all socials!
Count down the biggest dance songs in the country every week with Brian Fink on America’s Dance 30; listen on dance stations around the world!
AmericasDance30.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:10):
Dance counting down the biggest dance songsin the country. This is America's Dance
thirty Ella. I cannot believe thatthis is the first time we are chatting.
What the heck? Hello? Ohthat's such a nice intro. Let
(00:33):
me start over. Then, youknow, I actually fell in love with
your voice. I don't know ifit was when I heard take care of
You or if it was hold MeClose, but your voice, the smile
in it is just so infectious.Oh thank you. I'm going to snip
that and use it in every singleintro I have. Was that a better
(00:55):
intro for you? I loved it? I loved it? No, No,
thank you? Yeah. Do youknow what the last couple of years
has been a right whirlwind, andespecially since you know, the whole global
pandemic and everyone going on crazy lockdownsand all of that, So I think,
do you know, I just thinkdance music has been like the thing
that I've gone to to just makeme feel okay, insane through it all,
(01:15):
and making these records and writing theserecords has just been It's been a
lot of fun because I feel likethrough every dance record I've ever done,
there's always like a heightened emotion throughit of what I'm talking about, and
I think that's kind of probably whatyou're talking about for me. And the
lyrics are everything, and yeah,so it's been a lot of fun these
last for years for sure. Well, you definitely have a lot of songs
(01:36):
out right now that we're going totalk all about. But first of all,
welcome to America's Dance thirty. Congratulationsare no sleeve with regard going number
one. That is so incredible.Thank you may thank you so much.
Yeah, mega excited and just likesuper super tough that people are enjoying it.
(01:57):
And you know, like whenever Ido these records and collaborations, it's
always like it's one thing me feelingit in the studio and feeling like it's
an amazing record. But then whenthe world, the rest of the world
says so too, and especially inAmerica, like it's it feels amazing,
you know, as a little NorthernBritish girl over here, now I know
that this is regard seventh number one, which is mind blowing. Is this
(02:21):
your third number one on the USDance Chart? I think so. I
believe so because I had a numberone with David Gheda. Yeah, you
had a number one with Frank Walker. Yeah, i'm your accountant here.
Yeah, I didn't want to sayit was three, and then it's actually
two and I'm just actually selling myselfand lying to everyone that's listening. But
(02:44):
no, that's that is true.I've had three US number ones, which
is incredible, And yeah, thankyou for all your support over there.
It's been it's been amazing. It'skind of like, yeah, it's it's
so bizarre, I think, becauseI think at one point it was just
like, oh music ever travel again. We're all going to like dipping it
out of each other's countries again,and like just like having the facts that
(03:04):
I can be here writing these songsand recording these records and collaborating with like
DJ Regardless, someone that I highlyrespect and I wanted to work with him
for a while and when he sentover the idea of using the sample and
I was like, this is incredible, let's do it. And the writers
that I've worked with on doing thatas well, who are really close friends,
like it's just fun, man,and then feeling like other people are
(03:24):
experiencing that fun too. That's themain thing. Well, we're going to
delve deeper into it and find outhow No Sleep was born. Coming up,
But let's get to know Ella Hendersona little better first with Thinky's first.
Okay, let's do it. So. I love finding out the origin
(03:46):
story of artists. I know thatyou started singing really young, like three
years old, right, Yeah,I was pretty young. I think I
could sing before I could talk.It's so crazy. And you taught yourself
how to play piano really young aswell, right I did. I'm the
youngest of four siblings and none ofthem could play. We had a piano
(04:08):
in the house, but nobody played. It was just an ornament. And
then I came along and finally likewas like, Okay, well someone's gonna
have to play it. Yeah,But I was as a kid, I
remember, I was just obsessed withanything that made like sounds and just was
so like I actually always thank Barneythe Dinosaur for encouraging me to sing,
because that that TV show I wasobsessed with, apparently as a kid,
(04:28):
And one of the first songs Iever sang was I Love You Barney,
and also Annie the Music Annie Iused to love and I used to go
around the house apparently singing tomorrow tomorrow, And my mum was like, you
just could sing before you could talk. It was really weird, like you
just would like hum things and stuff. So it's always been in me.
Yeah, I think as well,being the youngest, you probably have to
be a bit more of like agobby child to like here be cut through
(04:50):
other siblings. So that was me. I had to fight to be heard.
Singing was the only way. Well, thank god you did. And
I mean, obviously the first thingyou wanted to be was a singer,
if you were singing that young,But when you were growing up, was
there anything else that you wanted tobe? No, I'd love to lie
(05:11):
to you and like create some amazingstory, like I wanted to be an
astronaut, but no. I usedto charge my family to come watch me
perform in the living room and I'dstand on the living room table with like
a feather ball around my neck,and my nan would flick the light switch,
being like all the way, andI used to come out and I'd
charged them to come in there,and I'd make I'd make fake show tickets
out of the newspaper and everything likethat for me was like everything. I
(05:35):
just loved putting a smile on people'sfaces of performing. I think I've always
had it in me. I don'tknow where it comes from, probably my
grandparents, Like my granddad was areally good singer, and my nan is
just full of life. She's eightyseven and still sings to this day,
so she's definitely been a role modelfor me. But I think, do
you know what, I think Ialways admired like big female vocalists, like
(05:56):
whether it be I grew up ina lot of jazz and soul music,
so like Etta Jane's Billie Holiday,and I feel like when I listened to
those kind of voices, even likeAretha Franklin, there's something about a woman
behind a mic singing about how she'sfeeling and that's all she needs to do,
nothing else, like let the voicedo the talking. And I think
I've just always been inspired by that. And I think the first probably artist
(06:18):
in the UK that did that forme was Amy Winehouse, where I just
completely was like like snitten with someone, Like the first time I ever saw
her perform on TV. I rememberI recorded it, I rewound it,
I watched it like fifty times overand from that moment I was obsessed,
and I looked her love for lyricsand her poetry and stuff. So yeah,
(06:40):
I think I've always had that inme to kind of like be a
performer. But I think it's funnyas a child was as a child was
very out there there. In myteenage years, I was very introverted,
so I actually preferred the idea ofOkay, maybe I want to be a
songwriter. And then I obviously didthe root of X factor my whole life
change. So yeah, it's sofunny. We were the same person growing
(07:04):
up. I was annoying as akid, and then when I hit my
teens, I was very shy,and now I'm in radio, so or
the same person. Come back.How much did Nanella Henderson show cost back
then? My guys, it wasonly about a dollar. That was a
(07:24):
good deal. Yeah, no,that you was getting a really great deal.
I mean, I say a gooddeal, but these are songs that
I wrote when I was like seven, so they probably weren't that great.
Well let's talk about that, becausenot only do you have no sleep with
regard, you've got react with switchDisco. You've got your brand new song
is it zero eight hundred or oheight hundred. We say O eight hundred,
(07:46):
but I feel like in America iszero eight hundred. So you've got
that with Joel Corey and Nathan dawBut what was the first song you ever
wrote? The very first song thatI ever wrote. I think it was
called My Papa and it was allabout my dad and it was basically,
he picked me up late from schoolone day, so I wrote a song
(08:07):
about how he never come. It'sso funny because it was actually whenever I
used to sing it like, peopleused to be like, oh my god,
like is your dad not in yourlife? And is he not around?
I was like, no, I'vegot the best dad ever. Like
he used to hate it when Ising it because it'd be like, you
make it sound like I've been likenot in your life. I don't care
listened to stop being like picking meup. You're like, I'll get you
(08:31):
exactly. It's like that Taylor Swifteffects where you end up just writing like
you do me wrong, I willwrite a song about you. Hilarious.
Now. I saw the video thatyou did for Delish, where the one
(08:54):
of the first things that you makepeople do when they come over to your
house is pick an angel car.What was your angel card today? Do
you know what? I haven't doneit yet, but they're literally here,
so let's do them. Yeah,let's do it. Absolutely. I thought
this was so like I honestly whenyou were starting the video. So I
have a pot by my door too, but it's for really yeah, but
(09:16):
it's for people to throw their changingyou do, like, I'm so Jewish.
It was so funny. I actuallyI don't know if you can see
the Gothic arch of that. Iactually live in a church conversion, so
I feel like I should be doinga church collection on arrival. That's what
I thought it was going to be. But the angel cards are definitely a
(09:39):
great touch. Let's get your angelcard for today, right, So mine
today is oh Vision and there's alittle board in the background that says soul
Sight Future. I feel like that'sgot a lot of meaning for this interview.
And then your card, I'll doyour card for you is Nervous Inspiration.
(10:03):
I like it. Oh, thisis beautiful. They're very positive.
That is so awesome. Now,of course, as you mentioned, and
everybody knows you're on the X Factorwhen you were sixteen, but do you
remember the first time you actually performedI do. It was in school,
in like primary schools, in likeprep school. I was very young.
(10:26):
And how it actually happened was itThere was like a day when I was
inside in a lesson and I startedsinging at the back of the classroom in
my own world, and the scienceteacher was like, who is that?
And I thought I was about toget told off, so I was like
I looked at the floor, andthen it was like who was that singing?
And in the end everyone was pointingat me, and I was like
beat root red. And then hewas like come here, and then I
(10:48):
came over and he was like staybehind after class and I did, and
then he put me forward to themusic teacher and was like she should sing
in the quiet in the school choietbecause I was so young. I was
like the youngest one in it atthe time. And then they gave me
like a solo and it's the firsttime I sang. And I'll never forget
that. The science teacher stood upin assembly that at that point and was
(11:09):
like, just before she sings,everyone, I want everyone to know that
I found her first. Of course, so this today, I still own
mister Smith, everything which is quitefunny run into Smith. Oh he's not.
He's unfortunately he passed away, soI really wanted to have a reunion
stuff. But a lot of myold school teachers are still alive and everything,
(11:31):
and they're amazing. But like hewas the first to really acknowledge me,
and I feel like the fact thathe found me because I never would
have been the kids that would havelike gone an audition for something or anything
like that. I feel like myconfidence very slowly built up over time.
Now, did he get a chanceto see you become popular before he passed?
Do you know what? I'm not? So I think he did.
I think he saw when I didX Factor and stuff like that, but
(11:54):
then I found out he passed awaynot long after I was on the show,
so I don't think he got tosee any of my success going on,
which is funny because like the pinnaclepeople in my life. As funny
as it is, like that hewas a teacher and he found me in
the classroom, like him and mygranddad, who my granddad was an amazing
singer, and he would have beenso so proud like he was. He's
the reason I do actually sing,to be honest, because from being a
(12:16):
kid. I'd stay over in aweekend. He'd put me up on the
lead on the side while he wascooking breakfast, and I remember like the
smell of bacon and everything, andthen he would play old records and he
was really into the rat Pack andFrank Sinatra and Dean Martin, and he
would sing all of that, andthen I would sing all the female parts.
We would like, we would likeduet on like Unforgettable, and I'd
sing all Nancy Sinatra's parts and stuff, and like he would have been so
(12:39):
proud because he always used to say, like, she's going to be a
star one day, and like mymum and Dad'd be like, oh,
okay, yeah, whatever, she'sonly charging a dollar. She can't be
that big of a star. Clearly, I come from such a small town
as well, so it was verymuch like big fish in a small pond.
So things like what's happened with mycareer like don't happen to people from
where I'm from. So, yeah, it's been a wild journey, but
(13:03):
one that I'm truly truly grateful for. Well, I'm sure both of them
are looking over you right now andare so proud of you. Is it
weird having video from when you weresixteen and looking back on everything from X
Factor? Because I'll tell you what, I thank god that there was no
video of me from a sixteen well, do you know what? I try
(13:24):
not to watch it because it reallyI just can't. Even though I'm not
at an age yet where I canstill accept or bless me I was sixteen.
I feel like that won't happen tillI'm in like my fifties or something.
Because I watch it back and I'mlike, what was I doing where
navy tights with trainers in a floraldress? I get really really frustrated about
it, and I question it wheneverI go watch it. I'm just like
(13:45):
I can't look past it. Andthen yeah, for me, it's just
like really cringe. I can't watchit. I can't watch myself back and
I hate watch it even like this. I couldn't watch this fact, So
I hate watching interviews back. Ijust I don't know. I'm very much
what you see is what you getwith me, and I'm very honest I
say how it is. So sometimesI'm like I put my foot in it
or say things. I'm like,yeah, I just don't watch you back,
Hello, it's worth Yeah, justlet it go. Well, finally,
(14:09):
in think he's first in honor ofNo Sleep with Regard going number one.
Of course, the song is allabout not losing sleep over somebody.
But what is the first thing thatdoes make you lose sleep besides rewatching your
old videos? Probably when I havean early If I have an early flight
(14:31):
to the airport, that's it.I can't sleep, like you know,
and you just wait. It doesn'tmatter when you set your alarm for I'll
set three alarms and I still don'tbelieve they're going to go off, and
I think I'm going to sleep throughthem. So I just wake up on
the hour, and I may aswell have just stayed up, especially since
I don't know if you're like me, but I'm packing at like two am
when I've got to leave at sixam. Yeah that's me as well.
Ah, it's the worst. Well, let's talk about this number one smash,
(14:54):
No Sleep with Regard. How wasthis song born? So this song
was this was actually sent to meand the chorus was kind of already done
with an amazing female writer called GeorgiaCoup, who's who you may know of
because she's like done really well actuallyover in the US, with a lot
of dance records and collaborations over thereas well. And I met Georgia and
(15:15):
she moved back from la to Londonlike just over a year ago, and
we met up in the studio andI'd heard this record, so I was
like, please, can we getin the studio and then we spoke about
it and we finished it and workedon it and I recorded parts on it,
and I just fell in love withit. And then it's really funny,
like me and her are built areally close friendship ever since, and
like we go for coffees like hangout and stuff. So that's been really
(15:35):
lovely, and I think I thinkfor me, I just loved the whole
concept that you know, somebody thinkingthat they're literally ruining your life when actually
it's like, no, I'm justcompletely out and away from you and I've
completely forgotten about you with a clickof finger. I just love the It's
quite an empowering record really and it'sfun and I mean you can't not love
(15:58):
the song A sample either, sotimeless. As soon as I heard it,
I was like, oh my god, I need to be a part
of this like it literally reminded meof my childhood. And my sister's ten
years older than me. She waslike, your childhood do you mean my
childhood? You know what I mean? I cratch it. I caught onto
the tail end of it, andshe's like, no, you didn't.
(16:18):
You was like a baby, andI was like, it's funny, though,
I feel like that kind of musicjust is time forever, timeless and
like runs through everybody's veins at somepoint and it's really interesting. Like my
niece didn't know it as a sample, and she was like, I love
this song and it's so funny.Like how when you reinvent a sample and
you do it well, things crossI did it well, I'm hoping because
(16:38):
it's number one people as human is, but like it. It's there's a
pressure with it, but there's alsothis thing of like wanting to do it
just this because you want a songto live on forever, even though it
already did. But it's it's justfun. Like I think whenever I do
a record or take a sample,especially which is kind of what I've been
doing over the last couple of yearswith a few collaborations. My number one
(17:02):
thing is like respecting what's already thereand not breaking what's not broken kind of
thing. So yeah, there's anelement of that to it. But yeah,
I love singing this song. I'vebeen singing it live at my festival
shows here in the UK and itgoes crazy when it comes on, so
it's been a lot of fun.Yeah. I was just talking to Anne
Marie about her interpolation with David ghetaBaby Don't Hurt Me and the redo of
(17:25):
had Away, and that was oneof my questions was do you you know,
in the back of your mind doyou worry about what the original artist
is going to think about it?Absolutely? I think it's really funny as
well, Like when I did theSwitch Disco record React, Yeah, so
children. When they sent it tome, I was like, we can't
touch this, nobody should touch this. I was like, nobody should do
(17:47):
this. And then it was funny. The more and more I listened to
the track. When they sent itover, I was like, Okay,
I have got some melodies, andthen I wrote the melodies and then I
went into the student and recorded themdown and kind of did it. And
then I was and I'm like,this is kind of really good. We
should definitely let's see what everyone elsethinks, and then everyone was like,
(18:07):
well why not. Do you knowwhat? It's one of those songs as
well, where we kind of putit out of no pressure and over here
it's been doing amazing. I've beenin the top ten for quite a while
now, and I think I thinkthere's just a little of nostalgia that like
brings like old and new together onthese kind of records, which is always
really fun because whenever I do thesesongs in my sets and shows, like
you have like the moms and dadsthat are like, oh, I know
(18:29):
this one, and then you've gotlike the kids that are like, yes,
I know this one. It's sofunny to see that kind of of
like people of all generations coming together. Well, I gotta tell you what
that one specifically, You know,just from knowing the original and seeing all
the remakes of it and everybody tryingto sample it react, is definitely an
amazing job that you guys did withit. So congratulations on there too.
(18:52):
Oh thank you. Do you remember, speaking of Faithless and Robert Miles,
do you remember the first dance songthat got you into loving dance music?
So my sister was really into likeher nineties ero She's very like the Spy
s Girls and all of that.But one of the biggest songs of what
I remember as a kid growing upthat was constantly on repeat was believed by
(19:17):
Scher so classic. Yeah, Andto be honest like that was like the
first time as well. I rememberhearing like a voice that had had all
of that auto tune and vocoda kindof effect on it, and I was
like, that's not Sha, andthen you're like, oh, it is.
And I can remember hearing that andmy sister being obsessed with it.
So I always loved that song andhence why when I did my X facts
(19:37):
were audition process at the boot camp. So when I got past my first
audition, you have to do theboot camp round, and I remember being
given this list of songs that wecould all pull from, and I could
hear down the corridors all the girlssinging like the Whitney Houston song, the
Aretha Franklin's song, the Jennifer HudsonI'm not going, like You're going to
love me, and everyone's like doingthe diva moments, and I'm like,
(20:00):
how the hell can I stand outwhen everyone sounds like Beyonce here, and
I remember looking through the list andI was like, oh, believe I
share, and I just remember hearingnobody singing it around me, and I
was like, well, this isone of my favorite songs. So I
went in and I remember finding apiano like a keyboard in one of the
practice rooms, and I stripped itall back and did because and then that
(20:21):
was the moment when I realized aswell, like, wow, the lyrics
are really powerful in this song.And I think, ultimately that's kind of
I think when I think of mylove for dance music, I always carry
that in every session I do.Now where ultimately, if we was to
strip all of this production right back, can I go on a piano and
sing this song? And does itmean something? And am I telling a
(20:41):
story? And with every dance songI've done, I would say it does
do that. And for me thatwas like an eye opener. I think
at that kind of teenage of beinglike, oh, not only is it
an outscope banger as it is andan absolute anthem doing it in that vulnerable
way and stripping it back, whichkind of was a huge moment for me,
Like that kind of blew me upover here massively in that version.
(21:04):
I think I got share back inthe top ten over here at that point,
which is crazy, just from doingthat performance. So I think,
yeah, probably that song. Well, I'm having deja vu because I think
(21:27):
it was the last artist interview Idid where we were talking about one thing
that I love about dance music,and what makes a good dance song is
when you can strip away everything andit's still an amazing song. That's why
I love dance music so much,is when the vocals are just so incredible.
(21:48):
Absolutely. I was almost I wasspeaking to my management the other day,
I was like, the amount ofdance records I've done now, I
said, what would be really coolis to maybe do something and I don't
know what's setting and where, butmaybe I invite fans down and I get
a piano out somewhere and I justdo this random pop up show where I
just sing all of these songs butin an acoustic way and let them hear
them in a completely different, likeshade of likes. I feel like if
(22:11):
you can have people understand the storiesbehind it, then these songs even become
even more to you. You know, it's so funny like the song that
I did I did with Kasai andNathan Door Lighter, Like I ended up
signing like a high pitched chipmunk onit. It's got crazy production in my
voice is sped up, but thevery original is me on the piano and
(22:32):
I'm talking about my absolute heartbreak momentof trying to get over this guy.
And it's like it's just really interestingand funny, like how the birth of
them in the journey these songs goon to when they what they actually end
up signing, like on the radio, even down to at the moment.
I'm about to record next week anacoustic version of my brand new song I
(22:52):
eight hundred Heaven with Joe Carry andNathan Door, and it's the first time
I think where I'm actually gonna go. I really want this to be Like
remember DJ Sammy when there was thatCandle Light version Heaven, Yeah, that's
where I want to go. Iwas like, why not, Like,
let's try and make the acoustic justas strong as the actual dance record.
I want this to be like abeautiful moment because this song is so vulnerable
(23:15):
and what I wrote it about sucha personal thing, like I want people
to understand and hear that, Sodefinitely, I think dance music that and
I think like it just there's somethingabout especially the festival season right in the
summer, when I do my showsand I get to my dance section,
like just seeing people's faces light upand seeing them smile and they come together
(23:36):
and people join together and they're singingalong, and like it just brings so
much hope, and I think we'veneeded that for a while. So for
me, I think it's just likethe love that I have for is just
how it makes me feel, andit makes me feel good. Well,
you've got to do that pop upand I'll wait for my invitation because when
like Above and Beyond did the orchestralstuff, and BT has done it Pete
(23:59):
to and it is just so incredibleshows that are stripped back that are just
piano or orchestra and it's so amazing. Let's talk about this new song with
Joel Corey and Nathan dah Oh eighthundred heaven. How was this song born?
So this song was actually for soNathan had a writing camp for his
(24:19):
music and I wrote up to thestudio that day. It was absolutely like
the worst weather. I nearly didn'tmake it to the session because I was
like, I don't think I'm capableof driving in this kind of rain,
and that's coming from a British personas well. It was horrendous. And
then I came in literally like adrowned rat. I was like, oh,
(24:40):
my hair was soaked because from thecar. I didn't have a brolly
in the car. And then Igot in there and then I sat down.
I was like, please tell mewe're not writing something about sunshine and
summer. I was like, becauseI'm just looking. And Nathan actually sat
there and he was like, doyou know what is like? I have
this thing that I've wanted to dofor a while, but I feel like
you're the person to do it.And I was like on and he was
(25:00):
like, I want to write thesaddest dance record of all time. I
want to write like something that makesyou want to dance but it also makes
you want to cry. And Iwas like, Okay, I don't know
if those two things go together,but let's do it. And I did
it alongside as well Megan Catoni,who was an incredible songwriter. I mean
I wrote twenty one reasons with herreact this is real With Jack Jones and
(25:23):
now this record, so me andher are kind of like the dance duo
when we get together. And outcame the concept of I just loved this
beautiful idea of if you had onelast thing to say to someone before you
pass away, like would you haveany regrets? And if you did pass
away and there was a way toconnect to someone and you could have that
last phone call with them, likewhat would you want to say? And
(25:45):
just something kind of like a bigultimatum, big dramatic moment, but over
a dance trance, nostalgic record.And when it started to come to life
in the studio, we started offwith the hook, and originally the lyric
was does Heaven have if Heaven hada FaceTime? Or if Heaven had FaceTime?
And because everyone has iPhones these days, and I remember like hearing it
(26:06):
back and I was like, oh, I was like, there's just something
not I was like, I loveapple Man, but I'm not sure that
this is like as universal as itcould be. And then out came the
idea of changing its phone line,and it was funny. I walked away
being like this is either so onthe nose and so terrible and no,
one never should hear this or isreally great and thank god I got the
(26:27):
phone call the next day from Nathanbeing like, well, I think we've
just You've just written my next singles, so let's do it, and then
Joel. He must have sent itto Joel because within twenty four hours I
had like this group chat but goingcrazy on WhatsApp that was just like ping,
ping, ping, when are wedoing it? And I was like,
Okay, Joel wants to do it, Nathan wants to do it.
Okay, I had to push mywhole solo campaign back to make it happen.
(26:48):
I was like, right, okay, let's do it boys. But
no, it has been fun andI don't think it would have suited any
time of year better than now.And we're about to go to Ebetha as
well and perform it for the firsttime together there, and that's like the
absolute stomping ground for these kind ofrecords to be performing it out, so
I'm excited for that as well.But yeah, it's it's had. I
mean, it's been out one weekand the reaction's been crazy over here,
(27:10):
so I'm mega excited. Yeah,it's an awesome song and I love how
it's got that nostalgia of like hardertrance sound kind of like Calvin's Miracle,
which is great too. You know, you've got so many songs out that
you're on as a programmer, itis a pain in the ass programming evolution
and I heart radio, but thatis a very good thing for you.
(27:32):
Is it hard to keep track ofall your songs when you've got so many
out? It's funny because sometimes notthe songs that I've recorded and I stay
on, but sometimes I write I'vewritten a lot of records, and then
I haven't stayed on them as thefeature. And I'll be in a shop
and I'll start singing along something.I'm like, how do I know this?
And I'd be like, oh,oh, I wrote it, but
(27:52):
I forgot that it even came out. And but that's that's kind of even
like in a weird way, thereeven like the better moments because you're like,
Wow, something I wrote somebody likestill thinks that, do you know
what I mean? As a writer, that's like the biggest compliment in the
world is when you write something andsomebody wants to use it and use it
for their own project, and Ilove it and I think what I've definitely
(28:14):
fallen in love with over the lastfour or five years is I think because
I came from a show like XFactor, and not many people knew that
I wrote my whole first album andI wrote Ghosts and I did that with
Brian and Brian's header and the wholefirst album came from me at the age
of sixteen. And I think exploringand delving into different genres of music and
being more of like a co writerin sessions is like really opened my mind
(28:36):
and my eyes to understanding what Ienjoy and like what makes me happy,
and that there's no rules. Iused to think put myself in a box
and be like, oh, ifI do a feature, I need to
make sure people still know that I'mstill like a soulful pop artist and I
take my music really seriously. Butactually, if you was to see me
on a Saturday night getting drunk athome on a bottle of wine with my
mates around the kitchen, We're dancingto all these kind of records. So
(29:00):
why wouldn't I want to do thatmyself? I don't know, And it's
kind of it's fun now when Ido my shows, like You've got this
kind of live anthemic sounding records,like you've got Ghosts and Glow going off
and Empire and then you've got itkind of then delves into this world and
then you've got me at the pianojust singing my ballads. So there's like
(29:21):
a whole mixmashup of stuff going on. But but I love it, and
I think it keeps me like onmy toes and keeps me excited about what
I do. And at the endof the day, I want to keep,
you know, progressing as a songwriterand keep pushing myself. Well,
congratulations on all of the smashes you'vegot out right now. Congratulations on your
third number one, no sleep withregard. I am so glad we finally
(29:45):
got to Chad. Thank you somuch for your time on America's Dance thirty.
Oh, thank you for having me. It's been an absolute pleasure.
America's Dance Counting down the biggest dancesongs in the country. America's Dance thirty
Dance counting down the biggest dance songsin the country. This is America's Dance
thirty Ella. I cannot believe thatthis is the first time we are chatting.
What the heck? Hello? Ohthat's such a nice intro. Let
(00:33):
me start over. Then, youknow, I actually fell in love with
your voice. I don't know ifit was when I heard take care of
You or if it was hold MeClose, but your voice, the smile
in it is just so infectious.Oh thank you. I'm going to snip
that and use it in every singleintro I have. Was that a better
(00:55):
intro for you? I loved it? I loved it? No, No,
thank you? Yeah. Do youknow what the last couple of years
has been a right whirlwind, andespecially since you know, the whole global
pandemic and everyone going on crazy lockdownsand all of that, So I think,
do you know, I just thinkdance music has been like the thing
that I've gone to to just makeme feel okay, insane through it all,
(01:15):
and making these records and writing theserecords has just been It's been a
lot of fun because I feel likethrough every dance record I've ever done,
there's always like a heightened emotion throughit of what I'm talking about, and
I think that's kind of probably whatyou're talking about for me. And the
lyrics are everything, and yeah,so it's been a lot of fun these
last for years for sure. Well, you definitely have a lot of songs
(01:36):
out right now that we're going totalk all about. But first of all,
welcome to America's Dance thirty. Congratulationsare no sleeve with regard going number
one. That is so incredible.Thank you may thank you so much.
Yeah, mega excited and just likesuper super tough that people are enjoying it.
(01:57):
And you know, like whenever Ido these records and collaborations, it's
always like it's one thing me feelingit in the studio and feeling like it's
an amazing record. But then whenthe world, the rest of the world
says so too, and especially inAmerica, like it's it feels amazing,
you know, as a little NorthernBritish girl over here, now I know
that this is regard seventh number one, which is mind blowing. Is this
(02:21):
your third number one on the USDance Chart? I think so. I
believe so because I had a numberone with David Gheda. Yeah, you
had a number one with Frank Walker. Yeah, i'm your accountant here.
Yeah, I didn't want to sayit was three, and then it's actually
two and I'm just actually selling myselfand lying to everyone that's listening. But
(02:44):
no, that's that is true.I've had three US number ones, which
is incredible, And yeah, thankyou for all your support over there.
It's been it's been amazing. It'skind of like, yeah, it's it's
so bizarre, I think, becauseI think at one point it was just
like, oh music ever travel again. We're all going to like dipping it
out of each other's countries again,and like just like having the facts that
(03:04):
I can be here writing these songsand recording these records and collaborating with like
DJ Regardless, someone that I highlyrespect and I wanted to work with him
for a while and when he sentover the idea of using the sample and
I was like, this is incredible, let's do it. And the writers
that I've worked with on doing thatas well, who are really close friends,
like it's just fun, man,and then feeling like other people are
(03:24):
experiencing that fun too. That's themain thing. Well, we're going to
delve deeper into it and find outhow No Sleep was born. Coming up,
But let's get to know Ella Hendersona little better first with Thinky's first.
Okay, let's do it. So. I love finding out the origin
(03:46):
story of artists. I know thatyou started singing really young, like three
years old, right, Yeah,I was pretty young. I think I
could sing before I could talk.It's so crazy. And you taught yourself
how to play piano really young aswell, right I did. I'm the
youngest of four siblings and none ofthem could play. We had a piano
(04:08):
in the house, but nobody played. It was just an ornament. And
then I came along and finally likewas like, Okay, well someone's gonna
have to play it. Yeah,But I was as a kid, I
remember, I was just obsessed withanything that made like sounds and just was
so like I actually always thank Barneythe Dinosaur for encouraging me to sing,
because that that TV show I wasobsessed with, apparently as a kid,
(04:28):
And one of the first songs Iever sang was I Love You Barney,
and also Annie the Music Annie Iused to love and I used to go
around the house apparently singing tomorrow tomorrow, And my mum was like, you
just could sing before you could talk. It was really weird, like you
just would like hum things and stuff. So it's always been in me.
Yeah, I think as well,being the youngest, you probably have to
be a bit more of like agobby child to like here be cut through
(04:50):
other siblings. So that was me. I had to fight to be heard.
Singing was the only way. Well, thank god you did. And
I mean, obviously the first thingyou wanted to be was a singer,
if you were singing that young,But when you were growing up, was
there anything else that you wanted tobe? No, I'd love to lie
(05:11):
to you and like create some amazingstory, like I wanted to be an
astronaut, but no. I usedto charge my family to come watch me
perform in the living room and I'dstand on the living room table with like
a feather ball around my neck,and my nan would flick the light switch,
being like all the way, andI used to come out and I'd
charged them to come in there,and I'd make I'd make fake show tickets
out of the newspaper and everything likethat for me was like everything. I
(05:35):
just loved putting a smile on people'sfaces of performing. I think I've always
had it in me. I don'tknow where it comes from, probably my
grandparents, Like my granddad was areally good singer, and my nan is
just full of life. She's eightyseven and still sings to this day,
so she's definitely been a role modelfor me. But I think, do
you know what, I think Ialways admired like big female vocalists, like
(05:56):
whether it be I grew up ina lot of jazz and soul music,
so like Etta Jane's Billie Holiday,and I feel like when I listened to
those kind of voices, even likeAretha Franklin, there's something about a woman
behind a mic singing about how she'sfeeling and that's all she needs to do,
nothing else, like let the voicedo the talking. And I think
I've just always been inspired by that. And I think the first probably artist
(06:18):
in the UK that did that forme was Amy Winehouse, where I just
completely was like like snitten with someone, Like the first time I ever saw
her perform on TV. I rememberI recorded it, I rewound it,
I watched it like fifty times overand from that moment I was obsessed,
and I looked her love for lyricsand her poetry and stuff. So yeah,
(06:40):
I think I've always had that inme to kind of like be a
performer. But I think it's funnyas a child was as a child was
very out there there. In myteenage years, I was very introverted,
so I actually preferred the idea ofOkay, maybe I want to be a
songwriter. And then I obviously didthe root of X factor my whole life
change. So yeah, it's sofunny. We were the same person growing
(07:04):
up. I was annoying as akid, and then when I hit my
teens, I was very shy,and now I'm in radio, so or
the same person. Come back.How much did Nanella Henderson show cost back
then? My guys, it wasonly about a dollar. That was a
(07:24):
good deal. Yeah, no,that you was getting a really great deal.
I mean, I say a gooddeal, but these are songs that
I wrote when I was like seven, so they probably weren't that great.
Well let's talk about that, becausenot only do you have no sleep with
regard, you've got react with switchDisco. You've got your brand new song
is it zero eight hundred or oheight hundred. We say O eight hundred,
(07:46):
but I feel like in America iszero eight hundred. So you've got
that with Joel Corey and Nathan dawBut what was the first song you ever
wrote? The very first song thatI ever wrote. I think it was
called My Papa and it was allabout my dad and it was basically,
he picked me up late from schoolone day, so I wrote a song
(08:07):
about how he never come. It'sso funny because it was actually whenever I
used to sing it like, peopleused to be like, oh my god,
like is your dad not in yourlife? And is he not around?
I was like, no, I'vegot the best dad ever. Like
he used to hate it when Ising it because it'd be like, you
make it sound like I've been likenot in your life. I don't care
listened to stop being like picking meup. You're like, I'll get you
(08:31):
exactly. It's like that Taylor Swifteffects where you end up just writing like
you do me wrong, I willwrite a song about you. Hilarious.
Now. I saw the video thatyou did for Delish, where the one
(08:54):
of the first things that you makepeople do when they come over to your
house is pick an angel car.What was your angel card today? Do
you know what? I haven't doneit yet, but they're literally here,
so let's do them. Yeah,let's do it. Absolutely. I thought
this was so like I honestly whenyou were starting the video. So I
have a pot by my door too, but it's for really yeah, but
(09:16):
it's for people to throw their changingyou do, like, I'm so Jewish.
It was so funny. I actuallyI don't know if you can see
the Gothic arch of that. Iactually live in a church conversion, so
I feel like I should be doinga church collection on arrival. That's what
I thought it was going to be. But the angel cards are definitely a
(09:39):
great touch. Let's get your angelcard for today, right, So mine
today is oh Vision and there's alittle board in the background that says soul
Sight Future. I feel like that'sgot a lot of meaning for this interview.
And then your card, I'll doyour card for you is Nervous Inspiration.
(10:03):
I like it. Oh, thisis beautiful. They're very positive.
That is so awesome. Now,of course, as you mentioned, and
everybody knows you're on the X Factorwhen you were sixteen, but do you
remember the first time you actually performedI do. It was in school,
in like primary schools, in likeprep school. I was very young.
(10:26):
And how it actually happened was itThere was like a day when I was
inside in a lesson and I startedsinging at the back of the classroom in
my own world, and the scienceteacher was like, who is that?
And I thought I was about toget told off, so I was like
I looked at the floor, andthen it was like who was that singing?
And in the end everyone was pointingat me, and I was like
beat root red. And then hewas like come here, and then I
(10:48):
came over and he was like staybehind after class and I did, and
then he put me forward to themusic teacher and was like she should sing
in the quiet in the school choietbecause I was so young. I was
like the youngest one in it atthe time. And then they gave me
like a solo and it's the firsttime I sang. And I'll never forget
that. The science teacher stood upin assembly that at that point and was
(11:09):
like, just before she sings,everyone, I want everyone to know that
I found her first. Of course, so this today, I still own
mister Smith, everything which is quitefunny run into Smith. Oh he's not.
He's unfortunately he passed away, soI really wanted to have a reunion
stuff. But a lot of myold school teachers are still alive and everything,
(11:31):
and they're amazing. But like hewas the first to really acknowledge me,
and I feel like the fact thathe found me because I never would
have been the kids that would havelike gone an audition for something or anything
like that. I feel like myconfidence very slowly built up over time.
Now, did he get a chanceto see you become popular before he passed?
Do you know what? I'm not? So I think he did.
I think he saw when I didX Factor and stuff like that, but
(11:54):
then I found out he passed awaynot long after I was on the show,
so I don't think he got tosee any of my success going on,
which is funny because like the pinnaclepeople in my life. As funny
as it is, like that hewas a teacher and he found me in
the classroom, like him and mygranddad, who my granddad was an amazing
singer, and he would have beenso so proud like he was. He's
the reason I do actually sing,to be honest, because from being a
(12:16):
kid. I'd stay over in aweekend. He'd put me up on the
lead on the side while he wascooking breakfast, and I remember like the
smell of bacon and everything, andthen he would play old records and he
was really into the rat Pack andFrank Sinatra and Dean Martin, and he
would sing all of that, andthen I would sing all the female parts.
We would like, we would likeduet on like Unforgettable, and I'd
sing all Nancy Sinatra's parts and stuff, and like he would have been so
(12:39):
proud because he always used to say, like, she's going to be a
star one day, and like mymum and Dad'd be like, oh,
okay, yeah, whatever, she'sonly charging a dollar. She can't be
that big of a star. Clearly, I come from such a small town
as well, so it was verymuch like big fish in a small pond.
So things like what's happened with mycareer like don't happen to people from
where I'm from. So, yeah, it's been a wild journey, but
(13:03):
one that I'm truly truly grateful for. Well, I'm sure both of them
are looking over you right now andare so proud of you. Is it
weird having video from when you weresixteen and looking back on everything from X
Factor? Because I'll tell you what, I thank god that there was no
video of me from a sixteen well, do you know what? I try
(13:24):
not to watch it because it reallyI just can't. Even though I'm not
at an age yet where I canstill accept or bless me I was sixteen.
I feel like that won't happen tillI'm in like my fifties or something.
Because I watch it back and I'mlike, what was I doing where
navy tights with trainers in a floraldress? I get really really frustrated about
it, and I question it wheneverI go watch it. I'm just like
(13:45):
I can't look past it. Andthen yeah, for me, it's just
like really cringe. I can't watchit. I can't watch myself back and
I hate watch it even like this. I couldn't watch this fact, So
I hate watching interviews back. Ijust I don't know. I'm very much
what you see is what you getwith me, and I'm very honest I
say how it is. So sometimesI'm like I put my foot in it
or say things. I'm like,yeah, I just don't watch you back,
Hello, it's worth Yeah, justlet it go. Well, finally,
(14:09):
in think he's first in honor ofNo Sleep with Regard going number one.
Of course, the song is allabout not losing sleep over somebody.
But what is the first thing thatdoes make you lose sleep besides rewatching your
old videos? Probably when I havean early If I have an early flight
(14:31):
to the airport, that's it.I can't sleep, like you know,
and you just wait. It doesn'tmatter when you set your alarm for I'll
set three alarms and I still don'tbelieve they're going to go off, and
I think I'm going to sleep throughthem. So I just wake up on
the hour, and I may aswell have just stayed up, especially since
I don't know if you're like me, but I'm packing at like two am
when I've got to leave at sixam. Yeah that's me as well.
Ah, it's the worst. Well, let's talk about this number one smash,
(14:54):
No Sleep with Regard. How wasthis song born? So this song
was this was actually sent to meand the chorus was kind of already done
with an amazing female writer called GeorgiaCoup, who's who you may know of
because she's like done really well actuallyover in the US, with a lot
of dance records and collaborations over thereas well. And I met Georgia and
(15:15):
she moved back from la to Londonlike just over a year ago, and
we met up in the studio andI'd heard this record, so I was
like, please, can we getin the studio and then we spoke about
it and we finished it and workedon it and I recorded parts on it,
and I just fell in love withit. And then it's really funny,
like me and her are built areally close friendship ever since, and
like we go for coffees like hangout and stuff. So that's been really
(15:35):
lovely, and I think I thinkfor me, I just loved the whole
concept that you know, somebody thinkingthat they're literally ruining your life when actually
it's like, no, I'm justcompletely out and away from you and I've
completely forgotten about you with a clickof finger. I just love the It's
quite an empowering record really and it'sfun and I mean you can't not love
(15:58):
the song A sample either, sotimeless. As soon as I heard it,
I was like, oh my god, I need to be a part
of this like it literally reminded meof my childhood. And my sister's ten
years older than me. She waslike, your childhood do you mean my
childhood? You know what I mean? I cratch it. I caught onto
the tail end of it, andshe's like, no, you didn't.
(16:18):
You was like a baby, andI was like, it's funny, though,
I feel like that kind of musicjust is time forever, timeless and
like runs through everybody's veins at somepoint and it's really interesting. Like my
niece didn't know it as a sample, and she was like, I love
this song and it's so funny.Like how when you reinvent a sample and
you do it well, things crossI did it well, I'm hoping because
(16:38):
it's number one people as human is, but like it. It's there's a
pressure with it, but there's alsothis thing of like wanting to do it
just this because you want a songto live on forever, even though it
already did. But it's it's justfun. Like I think whenever I do
a record or take a sample,especially which is kind of what I've been
doing over the last couple of yearswith a few collaborations. My number one
(17:02):
thing is like respecting what's already thereand not breaking what's not broken kind of
thing. So yeah, there's anelement of that to it. But yeah,
I love singing this song. I'vebeen singing it live at my festival
shows here in the UK and itgoes crazy when it comes on, so
it's been a lot of fun.Yeah. I was just talking to Anne
Marie about her interpolation with David ghetaBaby Don't Hurt Me and the redo of
(17:25):
had Away, and that was oneof my questions was do you you know,
in the back of your mind doyou worry about what the original artist
is going to think about it?Absolutely? I think it's really funny as
well, Like when I did theSwitch Disco record React, Yeah, so
children. When they sent it tome, I was like, we can't
touch this, nobody should touch this. I was like, nobody should do
(17:47):
this. And then it was funny. The more and more I listened to
the track. When they sent itover, I was like, Okay,
I have got some melodies, andthen I wrote the melodies and then I
went into the student and recorded themdown and kind of did it. And
then I was and I'm like,this is kind of really good. We
should definitely let's see what everyone elsethinks, and then everyone was like,
(18:07):
well why not. Do you knowwhat? It's one of those songs as
well, where we kind of putit out of no pressure and over here
it's been doing amazing. I've beenin the top ten for quite a while
now, and I think I thinkthere's just a little of nostalgia that like
brings like old and new together onthese kind of records, which is always
really fun because whenever I do thesesongs in my sets and shows, like
you have like the moms and dadsthat are like, oh, I know
(18:29):
this one, and then you've gotlike the kids that are like, yes,
I know this one. It's sofunny to see that kind of of
like people of all generations coming together. Well, I gotta tell you what
that one specifically, You know,just from knowing the original and seeing all
the remakes of it and everybody tryingto sample it react, is definitely an
amazing job that you guys did withit. So congratulations on there too.
(18:52):
Oh thank you. Do you remember, speaking of Faithless and Robert Miles,
do you remember the first dance songthat got you into loving dance music?
So my sister was really into likeher nineties ero She's very like the Spy
s Girls and all of that.But one of the biggest songs of what
I remember as a kid growing upthat was constantly on repeat was believed by
(19:17):
Scher so classic. Yeah, Andto be honest like that was like the
first time as well. I rememberhearing like a voice that had had all
of that auto tune and vocoda kindof effect on it, and I was
like, that's not Sha, andthen you're like, oh, it is.
And I can remember hearing that andmy sister being obsessed with it.
So I always loved that song andhence why when I did my X facts
(19:37):
were audition process at the boot camp. So when I got past my first
audition, you have to do theboot camp round, and I remember being
given this list of songs that wecould all pull from, and I could
hear down the corridors all the girlssinging like the Whitney Houston song, the
Aretha Franklin's song, the Jennifer HudsonI'm not going, like You're going to
love me, and everyone's like doingthe diva moments, and I'm like,
(20:00):
how the hell can I stand outwhen everyone sounds like Beyonce here, and
I remember looking through the list andI was like, oh, believe I
share, and I just remember hearingnobody singing it around me, and I
was like, well, this isone of my favorite songs. So I
went in and I remember finding apiano like a keyboard in one of the
practice rooms, and I stripped itall back and did because and then that
(20:21):
was the moment when I realized aswell, like, wow, the lyrics
are really powerful in this song.And I think, ultimately that's kind of
I think when I think of mylove for dance music, I always carry
that in every session I do.Now where ultimately, if we was to
strip all of this production right back, can I go on a piano and
sing this song? And does itmean something? And am I telling a
(20:41):
story? And with every dance songI've done, I would say it does
do that. And for me thatwas like an eye opener. I think
at that kind of teenage of beinglike, oh, not only is it
an outscope banger as it is andan absolute anthem doing it in that vulnerable
way and stripping it back, whichkind of was a huge moment for me,
Like that kind of blew me upover here massively in that version.
(21:04):
I think I got share back inthe top ten over here at that point,
which is crazy, just from doingthat performance. So I think,
yeah, probably that song. Well, I'm having deja vu because I think
(21:27):
it was the last artist interview Idid where we were talking about one thing
that I love about dance music,and what makes a good dance song is
when you can strip away everything andit's still an amazing song. That's why
I love dance music so much,is when the vocals are just so incredible.
(21:48):
Absolutely. I was almost I wasspeaking to my management the other day,
I was like, the amount ofdance records I've done now, I
said, what would be really coolis to maybe do something and I don't
know what's setting and where, butmaybe I invite fans down and I get
a piano out somewhere and I justdo this random pop up show where I
just sing all of these songs butin an acoustic way and let them hear
them in a completely different, likeshade of likes. I feel like if
(22:11):
you can have people understand the storiesbehind it, then these songs even become
even more to you. You know, it's so funny like the song that
I did I did with Kasai andNathan Door Lighter, Like I ended up
signing like a high pitched chipmunk onit. It's got crazy production in my
voice is sped up, but thevery original is me on the piano and
(22:32):
I'm talking about my absolute heartbreak momentof trying to get over this guy.
And it's like it's just really interestingand funny, like how the birth of
them in the journey these songs goon to when they what they actually end
up signing, like on the radio, even down to at the moment.
I'm about to record next week anacoustic version of my brand new song I
(22:52):
eight hundred Heaven with Joe Carry andNathan Door, and it's the first time
I think where I'm actually gonna go. I really want this to be Like
remember DJ Sammy when there was thatCandle Light version Heaven, Yeah, that's
where I want to go. Iwas like, why not, Like,
let's try and make the acoustic justas strong as the actual dance record.
I want this to be like abeautiful moment because this song is so vulnerable
(23:15):
and what I wrote it about sucha personal thing, like I want people
to understand and hear that, Sodefinitely, I think dance music that and
I think like it just there's somethingabout especially the festival season right in the
summer, when I do my showsand I get to my dance section,
like just seeing people's faces light upand seeing them smile and they come together
(23:36):
and people join together and they're singingalong, and like it just brings so
much hope, and I think we'veneeded that for a while. So for
me, I think it's just likethe love that I have for is just
how it makes me feel, andit makes me feel good. Well,
you've got to do that pop upand I'll wait for my invitation because when
like Above and Beyond did the orchestralstuff, and BT has done it Pete
(23:59):
to and it is just so incredibleshows that are stripped back that are just
piano or orchestra and it's so amazing. Let's talk about this new song with
Joel Corey and Nathan dah Oh eighthundred heaven. How was this song born?
So this song was actually for soNathan had a writing camp for his
(24:19):
music and I wrote up to thestudio that day. It was absolutely like
the worst weather. I nearly didn'tmake it to the session because I was
like, I don't think I'm capableof driving in this kind of rain,
and that's coming from a British personas well. It was horrendous. And
then I came in literally like adrowned rat. I was like, oh,
(24:40):
my hair was soaked because from thecar. I didn't have a brolly
in the car. And then Igot in there and then I sat down.
I was like, please tell mewe're not writing something about sunshine and
summer. I was like, becauseI'm just looking. And Nathan actually sat
there and he was like, doyou know what is like? I have
this thing that I've wanted to dofor a while, but I feel like
you're the person to do it.And I was like on and he was
(25:00):
like, I want to write thesaddest dance record of all time. I
want to write like something that makesyou want to dance but it also makes
you want to cry. And Iwas like, Okay, I don't know
if those two things go together,but let's do it. And I did
it alongside as well Megan Catoni,who was an incredible songwriter. I mean
I wrote twenty one reasons with herreact this is real With Jack Jones and
(25:23):
now this record, so me andher are kind of like the dance duo
when we get together. And outcame the concept of I just loved this
beautiful idea of if you had onelast thing to say to someone before you
pass away, like would you haveany regrets? And if you did pass
away and there was a way toconnect to someone and you could have that
last phone call with them, likewhat would you want to say? And
(25:45):
just something kind of like a bigultimatum, big dramatic moment, but over
a dance trance, nostalgic record.And when it started to come to life
in the studio, we started offwith the hook, and originally the lyric
was does Heaven have if Heaven hada FaceTime? Or if Heaven had FaceTime?
And because everyone has iPhones these days, and I remember like hearing it
(26:06):
back and I was like, oh, I was like, there's just something
not I was like, I loveapple Man, but I'm not sure that
this is like as universal as itcould be. And then out came the
idea of changing its phone line,and it was funny. I walked away
being like this is either so onthe nose and so terrible and no,
one never should hear this or isreally great and thank god I got the
(26:27):
phone call the next day from Nathanbeing like, well, I think we've
just You've just written my next singles, so let's do it, and then
Joel. He must have sent itto Joel because within twenty four hours I
had like this group chat but goingcrazy on WhatsApp that was just like ping,
ping, ping, when are wedoing it? And I was like,
Okay, Joel wants to do it, Nathan wants to do it.
Okay, I had to push mywhole solo campaign back to make it happen.
(26:48):
I was like, right, okay, let's do it boys. But
no, it has been fun andI don't think it would have suited any
time of year better than now.And we're about to go to Ebetha as
well and perform it for the firsttime together there, and that's like the
absolute stomping ground for these kind ofrecords to be performing it out, so
I'm excited for that as well.But yeah, it's it's had. I
mean, it's been out one weekand the reaction's been crazy over here,
(27:10):
so I'm mega excited. Yeah,it's an awesome song and I love how
it's got that nostalgia of like hardertrance sound kind of like Calvin's Miracle,
which is great too. You know, you've got so many songs out that
you're on as a programmer, itis a pain in the ass programming evolution
and I heart radio, but thatis a very good thing for you.
(27:32):
Is it hard to keep track ofall your songs when you've got so many
out? It's funny because sometimes notthe songs that I've recorded and I stay
on, but sometimes I write I'vewritten a lot of records, and then
I haven't stayed on them as thefeature. And I'll be in a shop
and I'll start singing along something.I'm like, how do I know this?
And I'd be like, oh,oh, I wrote it, but
(27:52):
I forgot that it even came out. And but that's that's kind of even
like in a weird way, thereeven like the better moments because you're like,
Wow, something I wrote somebody likestill thinks that, do you know
what I mean? As a writer, that's like the biggest compliment in the
world is when you write something andsomebody wants to use it and use it
for their own project, and Ilove it and I think what I've definitely
(28:14):
fallen in love with over the lastfour or five years is I think because
I came from a show like XFactor, and not many people knew that
I wrote my whole first album andI wrote Ghosts and I did that with
Brian and Brian's header and the wholefirst album came from me at the age
of sixteen. And I think exploringand delving into different genres of music and
being more of like a co writerin sessions is like really opened my mind
(28:36):
and my eyes to understanding what Ienjoy and like what makes me happy,
and that there's no rules. Iused to think put myself in a box
and be like, oh, ifI do a feature, I need to
make sure people still know that I'mstill like a soulful pop artist and I
take my music really seriously. Butactually, if you was to see me
on a Saturday night getting drunk athome on a bottle of wine with my
mates around the kitchen, We're dancingto all these kind of records. So
(29:00):
why wouldn't I want to do thatmyself? I don't know, And it's
kind of it's fun now when Ido my shows, like You've got this
kind of live anthemic sounding records,like you've got Ghosts and Glow going off
and Empire and then you've got itkind of then delves into this world and
then you've got me at the pianojust singing my ballads. So there's like
(29:21):
a whole mixmashup of stuff going on. But but I love it, and
I think it keeps me like onmy toes and keeps me excited about what
I do. And at the endof the day, I want to keep,
you know, progressing as a songwriterand keep pushing myself. Well,
congratulations on all of the smashes you'vegot out right now. Congratulations on your
third number one, no sleep withregard. I am so glad we finally
(29:45):
got to Chad. Thank you somuch for your time on America's Dance thirty.
Oh, thank you for having me. It's been an absolute pleasure.
America's Dance Counting down the biggest dancesongs in the country. America's Dance thirty
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