Ella Galvin talks identity, inspiration, and all things ‘The Way It Goes’
Words by Ava Firmani
Photos by Kiera Kenny
Photos by Kiera Kenny
Best Left Magazine: Your first official music video that's filmed for your song off your newest EP 'The Way It Goes' is shot in New York. Is there something about the city, specifically to you, that helps you collect new and creative ideas for your music, as well as music video ideas?
Ella Galvin: Definitely. My debut single was a song about how much I love New York and how inspired I am by the tiny city lights in windows that compose the skyline; hence the song title “tiny city lights”. I feel like everyone lives here to pursue a greater dream which I think is so encouraging.
Best Left Magazine: When writing your newest EP, would you say that the city helped you form the EP to what it is? If so, out of all the places in the city, do you have a favorite/specific place that allows you think outside of the box to help curate new ideas?
Ella Galvin: Just general life experiences, things im going through, things my friends are going through. It takes place in New York because that’s where I’ve been for the last 3 to 5 years when these songs were all written!
Best Left Magazine: As your new EP expresses many different genres such as Soulful, Pop, Jazz, and Rock, which genre would you say you identify your personality with through your music and through your regular everyday life.
Ella Galvin: I usually say Pop/Soul, but I think Jazz would more explain my journey because it envompasses so much more. Jazz comes from such a deep place because of the amount of improvisation … it’s so amazing to me & encourages me to try new things and experiment more.
Best Left Magazine: If you could collaborate with an artist with any of the songs off your EP, who would it be and why?
Ella Galvin: I’d love to collaborate with Tom Misch or Remi Wolf. Chappell Roans music has also had such a strong hold on me recently I’d love to work with her.
Best Left Magazine: Considering there are 6 songs on your newest EP, which would you say was the most difficult to write and which was the most fun and easiest to write?
Ella Galvin: Spare me was the song that came easiest to me, but it was a really hard time in my life. I think I was just able to really describe it well since I wrote it when I was at the peak of going through it. I would say The Way It Goes was one of the most fun ones to write because it took such a different direction and I ended up really loving the direction that it took since it was really different than a lot of stuff I had made before.
Best Left Magazine: What was your unique thought process with coming up with the titles to these 6 new and lovely songs?
Ella Galvin: I think the title is kind of the thesis statement of all of the songs or what the song symbolizes. With the way I write, the title sort of comes easily because the songs are sort of a similar structure in that the chorus is lyrically the important part of this song.
Best Left Magazine: Which song do you hold most close to your heart off this EP and why?
Ella Galvin: I think pink shoes since it opened so many doors for me into the music scene. I wrote that song with Grady Tesch, my vibraphone player and Producer in May 2021 when I had just moved back to the city. From performing it live for the first time to recording it, I was able to work with so many wonderful musicians and producers on that track, it inspired me so so much and ended up being so much fun.
Best Left Magazine: Considering you got your start performing with bands across Boston and New York and are now releasing your debut EP, how would you say you've changed creatively and artistically with your music and you as a person?
Ella Galvin: I think my music has definitely changed to encompass many more influences and genres which is so interesting to experiment with. It’s also really interesting being the one that makes most of the creative decisions instead of being a group of people that has to run everything by eachother. In the end, you really have to trust yourself and that is really empowering to me.
Best Left Magazine: How were you able to find your specific sound for this EP? What were the aesthetic vibes you were trying to go for?
Ella Galvin: I really had to trust myself for this. I was nervous when I first started working on it & if it would be cohesive, but it’s ultimately about the story and not about the songs fitting into the same genre or sounding similar. Who wants all their songs to sound similar anyways?
Best Left Magazine: Lastly, do you feel that you've developed a more profound confidence with releasing your first EP compared to when you first started your solo career? If so, what makes you feel you're most confident in your songwriting and you as a person?
Ella Galvin: I’ve developed more of a confidence, especially since I now have a full body of work out in the world! I’ve always been hard on myself about songwriting and lyrics too but as I wrote and performed these live, thw responses have been amazing. It’s given me a newfound confidence and encouragement to continue writing and recording :)
Check out our full portraits shoot with Ella below! All photos by Kiera Kenny.
You can check out ‘The Way It Goes’ NOW down below or wherever you get your music, be sure you do because you will not want to miss out!
