It’s been 10 long years on the road but singer-songwriter Ella Eyre is back and better than ever on his second studio album, everything, on time.
Since signing with a record label at the age of 17, Ella has had a whirlwind journey in the music industry. She first made a name for herself as a singer on a string of dance hits including ‘Waiting All Night’ with Rudimental, ‘Gravity’ with DJ Fresh, plus ‘Came Here For Love’ and ‘Just Got Paid’ with Sigala. In parallel, she released her own material including her brilliant debut album Feline back in 2015.
But during the lockdown, Ella needed surgery on her vocal cords, which meant she needed to relearn how to speak. In parallel with this, she parted ways with her former company, took her masters and started over. Now, 10 years after her debut album, Ella returns with everything, on time and it feels as if she was never gone.
The 15-track album is a cohesive work that really cements Ella’s vision as an artist. A heady mix of soul, R&B and retro funk, the album is full of emotion, vulnerability and her distinctively powerful vocals. Previous releases ‘hell yeah’, ‘domino szn’ and ‘high on the internet’ featuring Jay Prince gave fans a taste of what to expect, and the hits just keep on coming when you listen to the album in its entirety.
Ella sets the tone with the opener ‘everything, in time’, which sums up her intentions from the start. This was the last track written for the album, but is the perfect way to start this sonic journey as it encapsulates where Ella is right now and reintroduces us to this brilliant artist. ‘head in the ground’ with Tiggs Da Author and ‘high on the internet’ with Jay Prince increase the race and mark the only collaborations on the album, where the rappers add their flow to actions.
‘domino szn’ is filled with a gorgeous RnB groove as she ‘diamonds’ up the tempo on the record, as she searches for someone who will make her heart skip a beat and put the spark in her life. Heartbreak is a recurring theme on the album, with “red flags & love hearts” calling out bad behavior in a former flame. One of the highlights of the album, the track is darker in tone as she questions why red flags present themselves as signs of love instead. It leads to “shit hurts”, where she continues to be vulnerable to the mysteries of love when a relationship ends.
Although the album is predominantly RnB infused, there are experimental elements throughout, particularly on ‘kintsugi’ and ‘ain’t no love that blind’, which are both atmospheric and different from Ella’s usual style. Both tracks are electrifying in their own way and it’s fun to see the singer-songwriter continue to delve into a slightly darker sound. This theme continues on “What About Me”, a self-love song as Ella rightly realizes that after years of prioritizing others, she needs to put herself first for once.
This leads to “little things”, a breezy Sunday morning style track where Ella talks about how sometimes all that matters in life is the little things, especially when everything else feels like it’s weighing you down. In contrast, ‘hell yeah’ is a huge singalong where Ella embraces some of the questionable choices she’s made. The contrast between both these tracks is stark but serves as a reminder that life is messy and no journey is linear.
On “loverman,” Ella delves into the “what about me” self-love theme with the artist asserting independence—she doesn’t need a man tonight. The track is laced with brass elements, which continue into the bold “space” that strikes from the open with its large brass opening. The track is an empowering “f*** you” for someone, as Ella draws a line under a past situation in a humorous way.
The album closes with the wonderful ‘rain in heaven – demo’, a gentle, vulnerable offering that really sums up the feel of the album. The track reinforces that life doesn’t always turn out the way you want or expect, and even if “paradise isn’t what it seems,” the journey you take will make you stronger than you could ever imagine.
everything, on time is an irresistible no-skip record and its power lies in its ability to make you lose yourself in the captivating melodies and Ella’s rich vocals. The album serves as the perfect reintroduction to Ella Eyre – a young woman who, despite all the challenges she faces, stands stronger and bolder than before. The album is the epitome of “good things come to those who wait,” and Ella is only just getting started.
everything, on time is out now.
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