POPSTAR Ella Henderson is officially back with new album Everything I Didn't Say out on Friday.

The soulful singer, who originally shot to fame on the X Factor in 2012, is expected to wow fans with the much-anticipated follow-up to her debut more than seven years ago.

Now 26, she has teased fans with single Brave and although she has continued to make pop hits collaborating with the likes of Tom Grennan on Let's Go Home Together and This Is Real with Jax Jones, the new project will be her biggest since her 2014 album Chapter One which featured the smash hit Ghost. 

With plans to tour the album including a date at Glasgow's SWG3 on Monday, October 17, Ella talks to the Glasgow Times about the new material, her Scottish roots and what is next for her. 

Glasgow Times:

 

1. How are you Ella and how have you been coping during the pandemic?

I am very well thank you! I think these last few years have been an unexpected whirlwind for so many of us, but I am glad to finally be seeing us all coming out the other side of it now.

2. We are so excited for your new album. Can you tell us what to expect?

I am so excited for people to finally hear my new album Everything I Didn’t Say. It has certainly been a long time coming. I guess you can expect a lot of emotional word vomit and many stories I am ready to share with you all from the last seven years!

3. There was a number of years between your debut and the new release, was there a reason for taking so much time over the follow-up?

It was never intentional for the gap to be this long! But I suppose it worked out the best for me as it gave me time to take a step back from everything and live some kind of ‘normal’ life as that is what I needed to be able to have something to write about.

4. How does it feel to have a headlining tour? What can fans expect from the show?

I am SO excited, I can’t even begin to tell you, to get back on the road! I have missed performing live and gigging so much! Being able to finally perform my new music on stage and see my fans again means the world to me!

5. Do you enjoy touring?

Of course! Apart from being in the studio writing (which is my favourite place to be), being on the road and getting to perform my music live is just the best feeling on the planet! I always say there is no bigger adrenaline rush than a crowd singing a song you’ve written back to you!

Glasgow Times:

6. I know you have performed in Glasgow many times, what do you love about the city?

I just love Scotland in general! I guess I have so many roots there as a lot of my family on my dad’s side are from Scotland. Whenever I perform in Glasgow, the energy and atmosphere is electric!

7. How special are your Scottish fans and have they ever done anything crazy?

Yes absolutely! I think my Scottish fans are the best, they are so loyal… and loud!!!

8. Can you tell me more about your Scottish roots?

My Grandad Bill is from Stirling in Scotland and he had a huge impact on my life and my love for music. He brought me up listening to jazz artists like Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday on his old record player and always said to me that I would be a famous singer one day just like them.

9. You have done many collaborations, who would you love to work with that you haven’t already?

I would love to write and work with Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson… I think we would create something magical together!

10. It has been almost a decade since you appeared on The X Factor, what do you think the key has been to your longevity?

Probably just sticking to my guns and the fact I write my own songs. For me, my songwriting is the centre of everything! Whether I am writing for me or for someone else I think that is a huge reason why I will always do what I do!

11. Do you still stay in touch with the contestants you competed against on The X Factor?

I do! James Arthur and Rylan mainly! We always check in on one another and make sure we are all doing ok!

12. You clearly are a very talented singer, do you have any other ambitions outside music such as acting?

I would love to go into acting one day but my main passion is in music. So I will leave that for something later in life.

13. What is next for you?

Next up is a lot of travelling and promoting this record! I have missed seeing and connecting with my fans in real life and I think getting back on the road is gonna be so much fun! I hope that after my tour is finished in the UK, I can think about going to Europe and travelling all around the world with this album!

For more on Ella Henderson, visit HERE