Many fresh new faces are emerging from the UK, and one of the latest comes in the form of Ellie Goulding. Her debut album Lights took the UK by storm and debuted right atop the UK albums chart. She rose to fame after topping the BBC Sound of 2010 poll and winning the Critics Choice Award at the 2010 BRIT Awards. Born in Hereford, England, Goulding was educated at the Lady Hawkins' High School in Kington, Herefordshire. She attended Hereford Sixth Form College before moving onto Kent University, where she was advised to take a gap year to pursue her talent.
Signed to Polydor Records in September 2009, her debut single Under the Sheets was released on independent label Neon Gold Records rather than Polydor so that she would not be put under too much pressure. Premiered on BBC Radio 1 on 30 September 2009, it has since gained heavy airplay. It was released digitally in the United Kingdom on 15 November 2009 and peaked at number fifty-three on the UK Singles Chart.
In October 2009 she toured the UK supporting Little Boots, and on 30 October 2009 performed Under the Sheets and Guns and Horses as a guest on Later... with Jools Holland.
She collaborated with Frankmusik on Wish I Stayed (which was featured as the Single of the Week on the UK iTunes Store from 22–28 December 2009) and provided vocals for the Starsmith remix of Passion Pit's Sleepyhead.
Prior to the release of her debut studio album, it was announced that Goulding topped the BBC Sound of 2010 poll, which showcases the critics, broadcasters and music industry insiders' top choices for rising stars and artists for the coming year. She also won the Critics' Choice Award at the 2010 BRIT Awards which makes her the second artist to win both the poll and win the Critic's Choice award in the same year, after Adele won both awards two years previous.
Goulding's debut album, entitled Lights, was through Polydor on 1 March 2010, preceded by its second single, Starry Eyed, which was released 22 February 2010. For the majority of the album, Goulding worked with English producer Starsmith. It hit the top of the UK Albums Chart and #12 in the Irish Albums Chart in March 2010.
Labels: ELLIE GOULDING
