“Fangirls are the backbone of the music industry” - Ben Ellis gets candid on fans, music, and what's next
By Stella Philine
Welsh singer-songwriter Ben Ellis is refreshingly honest about the highs and lows of life as a rising artist. From playing recorder to grade eight as a kid (yes, really) to selling out his own headline tour, Ellis has come a long way in a short time. He spoke with us about his new single When It Ends, his surreal night opening for Sir Tom Jones, and why fangirls will always have his heart.
“Fangirls are the backbone of the music industry — I will always say that.”
S: How did music come into your life?
B: Honestly, I didn’t grow up surrounded by pop. My dad was obsessed with classical music, so it was all Classic FM and Queen’s Greatest Hits in the car. The first time I saw live music was at folk festivals with my mum, and I just thought, this is the coolest thing ever. But I wasn’t writing songs at 10 like some people - I came to it later.
S: Do you remember when you knew you wanted to pursue it seriously?
B: Yeah, it was Ed Sheeran. I was 13, playing recorder of all things - I even got to grade eight on it! Then I saw Ed, and he just wasn’t “cool” in a traditional sense, but he was still the coolest person alive. I thought, I need to play guitar, I need to do this. When I saw him live in Cardiff, I nearly cried when he came on stage. That’s the closest I’ve ever been to being a proper fangirl.
S: Would you say Ed still influences you now?
B: At the start, yeah. He taught me to “just keep writing,” but I realized I’m not wired to write 10 songs a day. These days, Harry Styles is a big influence, and honestly, my peers too. My friends Lev and Matt really shaped me. Some of my best writing has come from just vibing in a room with them.
S: Your new single ‘When It Ends’ is out now. What was making it like?
B: Brutal! It’s the hardest song I’ve ever made. We did about 45 versions, 25 mixes, and two masters. At points I thought, I can’t keep going with this, but I’m so glad I didn’t settle. It came from something really personal, one of the first times I leaned on songwriting to get me through something.
S: Do you usually start with lyrics or music?
B: It depends, but I always need a clear idea. With When It Ends I was on Zoom with Matt in New York. I had this riff and vision, even though it sounded really small at first. I kept telling myself, trust the process.
S: You’ve sold out your first tour and even opened for Sir Tom Jones. What was that like?
B: Opening for Tom Jones was surreal. Growing up in Wales, he’s the icon. Playing my dream venue in my hometown, on the same stage as him, was insane. I can’t even say how I got the gig - it was the weirdest series of events - but it showed me that if you work hard, luck finds you in strange ways.
S: What’s something fans might not know about touring?
B: How expensive it is. People don’t realize how brutal touring can be financially. And how much it takes a whole team — my tour manager, the crew, the photographers, and of course the fans. They make fan projects, accounts, scrapbooks, all this effort just because they care.
“It takes so much empathy to be a fangirl. They give their time, energy, and effort just because they care. I’ll always respect that.”
S: Do you have any touring essentials?
B: My pillow and eye mask. On the Alfie tour I couldn’t sleep at all, and I was like, I’m going to die if I don’t figure this out. Bought an eye mask, brought my pillow — slept like a baby every night after that. Total lifesaver.
S: What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
B: Kill them with kindness. It stuck with me. Whether it’s industry stuff or personal, the best way to handle it is kindness.
S: Any advice you’d give your younger self?
B: Just start. Don’t wait for the perfect moment. I didn’t properly start until COVID, and I wish I’d pushed myself sooner.
S: Where would you like to see yourself in a year and long-term?
B: I’d love to release a full album next year and get back on tour. Long-term, I don’t need to be the biggest artist in the world. If I can live off music, tour, and release albums, I’ll be happy.
S: Is there a song you’re most proud of?
B: One that isn’t out yet, called Animal. I was in a session, had a complete breakdown, told myself I was the worst songwriter ever. Then we stripped it all back, wrote something completely honest, and it clicked. That moment reminded me why I do this.
S: And a dream collaboration?
B: Ed Sheeran would be the easy answer, obviously - I still don’t think I’d be normal if I met him. But also my friends - Alfie, Asher Banks, Devin Gabriella, Hannah Gray. Hannah and I once joked about starting a 70s-style band, and I still think about it all the time.
“I’ve already done more than I dreamed of. If I can keep making music full time, that’s success to me.”
Ben Ellis is gearing up for more shows, new music, and maybe even that full-length album he dreams of. But one thing’s certain: he’s doing it all with honesty, humility, and a deep appreciation for the fans who make it possible.
