For years I’ve been wanting to start a blog series to talk about artists who are “On The Rise”. Discovered by many but not super mainstream. To me, this is the most exciting part of being a music fan. I remember anxiously anticipating Noah Kahan’s pandemic EP “Cape Elizabeth” and watching as he erupted 4 years later into becoming a household name for Rock, Folk, Country and Pop fans. You could see a pathway for Megan Maroney who just received the CMA award for New Artist of the Year. Charli XCX was a hit maker touring the festival circuit and delivering iconic shows for well over a decade before “Brat Summer” ever took place. The list of examples here is unlimited.
ELLA LANGLEY
2024 marked a historic year for Country music. Riding off the wildly successful Pop-Country heels of Morgan Wallen and Zach Byran artists like Megan Maroney, Lainey Wilson, and Jelly Roll catapulted into superstardom. Even mainstream pop artists like Post Malone and Beyonce are making country albums! Some of the biggest Pop hits are Country songs like Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song” and four of the Top 10 songs on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart are Country. It’s time to embrace the cowboy and that leads me to this artist…
Ella Langley released her debut single three years ago this November and, in that time, this Alabama singer-songwriter has started to dust up the genre and catch some eyes not only for her music but of course her infectious personality and charm. With a beautiful, deep, twangy voice Ella brings a nostalgic retro sound to contemporary Country music. Similar to Lainey Wilson’s deep southern accent, Ella just sounds different than most Nashville Country. It’s giving Linda Rondstadt mixed with Miranda Lambert. Outlaw Country was popularized decades ago by Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Hank Williams. It’s a foundational part of the American Songbook and the 2020s are seeing a lot of reminders of this. Songwriting is back in such a huge way. Ella is bridging genres mimicking styles from the Outlaw era as well as Pop/Stadium Country.
The best example of this is Ella’s biggest hit to date, “you look like you love me”, a duet with fellow country artist, Riley Green. It is an unconventional country song featuring back-and-forth spoken word verses describing both singers’ takes on a romantic interaction. Of course, each verse leads back into a very catchy chorus. Regardless, it’s different and refreshing. Music is meant to take you to different places and this song would fit right into any Cowboy western or cattle farming TV show. It makes for a fun barn-dancing song at any concert venue or local bar.
Ella released her debut album Hungover on August 2nd, 2024. When asked about the process of developing this project she says
“It represents the songs that I have been writing for the past four or five years, this era of my life from 21 to 25. How many different ways can you be hungover? It shows the artist I want to be, raw and real. This is a safe place to enjoy the one ride we get in this life.”
Due to the success of the album Ella followed up with a deluxe release of Still Hungover on November 1st, 2024. One of the deluxe album single tracks was “weren’t for the wind” which is my personal favorite of hers. It portrays an authentic country girl who’s tough, relentlessly bold, and living her life without regrets. The song is a metaphor that just like the weather and elements across this planet are unpredictable and uncontrollable, we humans are no different in our own lives. Ella often fantasizes about a life where she could settle down, but her lifestyle or “the wind” keeps her from doing that.
There are a few things that help Ella stand out along with her fantastic catalogue of music. She has that IT factor that Pop Stars and especially Country Stars need to maintain their careers. A little bit of beauty, a little bit of bad, and a whole lot of fun. Ella is embracing the Outlaw and giving us a character reminiscent of any notorious cowgirl from Buffalo Bill’s Wild West. Country music fans are deeply loyal and dedicated to the genre they love. To break through at the highest level, you must be a showman and relate to thousands of people at a time with your music and performances.
Ella stated in an interview with Grammy.com, "I've been manifesting this my whole life. People used to ask me, 'How far do you want to take it?' and I was like, 'As far as I can — which is, in my brain, a stadium,'". Go big or go home and Ella Langley could be one big song away from headlining her dream venues. Be on the lookout over the next few months while the Hungover campaign continues to make a name for this incredible breakout star.
Meet Ella Langley, The "You Look Like You Love Me" Singer Ready To Be Country Music's Next Straight-Shooting Queen | GRAMMY.com
Photo Credits: Caylee Robillard
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