Ella Eyre

Ella Eyre
Eyre in 2016
Eyre in 2016
Background information
Born
Ella McMahon

(1994-04-01) 1 April 1994
Westminster, London, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active2012–present
Labels
Websiteellaeyreiam.com

Ella McMahon (born 1 April 1994), known professionally as Ella Eyre, is an English singer and songwriter. She rose to prominence following her collaboration with Rudimental on their UK number-one single "Waiting All Night" (2013), which won the Brit Award for British Single of the Year. She also featured on DJ Fresh's single "Gravity" (2015). She was the runner-up for the 2014 Brit Critics’ Choice Award and is known for her work in dance-pop and soul-influenced music.

Eyre released her debut extended play, Deeper, in 2013, which included the single "If I Go", her first solo top 20 entry on the UK Singles Chart. Her debut studio album, Feline, followed in 2015, and reached the top five of the UK Albums Chart and features the singles "Comeback" and "Together". Following a hiatus during which she underwent vocal cord surgery in 2020 and had to relearn how to speak and sing, she transitioned to working as an independent artist and released her second studio album, Everything, in Time, in November 2025 through PIAS Recordings.

Early life and education

Ella Norris McMahon was born on 1 April 1994 in Westminster, London and raised in Ealing, London.[1] Her father was Jamaican and her mother is Maltese. Her father was a chef who lived in Jamaica and was unable to move to the UK with the rest of his family due to limited economics[2] and her mother, who raised Eyre in London, is a cake designer.[3][4] Eyre trained as a competitive swimmer before she began singing professionally.[3]

Eyre was educated at Millfield School, a public school in Somerset. Refuting the idea that she came from a privileged background, she observed that her mother could not have afforded the fees, and she went there on a "massive swimming scholarship".[2] She later attended the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology, where she studied musical theatre.[5][6] Discovered by her management through a vocal coach in 2011, she juggled school with songwriting. She signed to the publisher Warner Chappell Music in July 2012 and a record deal with Virgin EMI followed shortly after, aged 16.[7]

Music career

In December 2012, Eyre featured on Bastille’s cover and mash-up of TLC's "No Scrubs" and the xx's "Angels", titled "No Angels", which appeared on the band’s 2012 mixtape, Other People's Heartache, Pt. 2. In April 2013, she featured on drum and bass band Rudimental's single "Waiting All Night", which peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Eyre’s first chart entry.[8] In August 2013, Eyre appeared alongside rapper Wiz Khalifa on the track "Think About It" from producer Naughty Boy’s 2013 album Hotel Cabana. The song was released as the fourth single from the album in November 2013. She also featured on rapper Tinie Tempah's album Demonstration on the track "Someday (Place in the Sun)", which entered the UK Singles Chart at number 87.[9] Eyre’s first extended play (EP), Deeper, was released in December 2013, and the title track reached number 72.[10][11] She was the runner-up for the 2014 BRIT Critics’ Choice Award and came second on the BBC Sound of 2014 shortlist.[12] "Waiting All Night" also won the Brit Award for British Single of the Year that year.[13] Her next three solo singles — "If I Go", "Comeback" (both 2014) and "Together" (2015) — reached the top twenty on the UK Singles Chart.[14] She co-wrote the UK number one single "Changing" for drum and bass duo Sigma featuring Paloma Faith, released in September 2014. In October 2014, Eyre won Best Newcomer at the MOBO Awards 2014.[15] In 2015, Eyre featured on DJ Fresh’s single "Gravity" and co-wrote "Black Smoke", performed by Ann Sophie at the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 for Germany.[16] She supported Olly Murs on his arena tour and was announced as the face of Emporio Armani Diamonds.[17][18]

Her debut album, Feline, was released in August 2015, following the single "Good Times", and featured contributions from Wayne Hector, Ilya, Paul O’Duffy and Jarrad Rogers.[19][20] In September 2015, Eyre released a cover of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" in association with England Rugby for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.[21] In November, she won Best Female at the MOBO Awards 2015.[22] She then embarked on a UK tour.[23]

2017–present: Everything, in Time

On 18 February 2017, Eyre announced her comeback concert at KOKO in London, which took place on 4 April 2017.[24] At the concert, she performed four new songs: "LOV(E)", "Drink with Your Name on It", "I Swear" and "Ego". On 29 May 2017, Eyre and Sigala announced their collaborative single "Came Here for Love", which was released on 9 June 2017. Two months later, she released "Ego" featuring Ty Dolla $ign. She then supported Little Mix on their Summer Shout Out Tour and the Script on their Freedom Child Tour in early 2018.[25] In February 2018, Eyre participated in the 2018 Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off.[26] On 5 March 2018, she released "Answerphone" with Banx & Ranx and Yxng Bane, which peaked at number 5 on the UK Singles Chart. On 7 September 2018, Eyre collaborated again with Sigala on "Just Got Paid", featuring Meghan Trainor and French Montana, which reached number 11 in the UK.[27] In July 2019, Eyre signed with Island Records and released the single "Mama" featuring Banx & Ranx and Kiana Ledé.[28][29] In January 2020, she released "New Me", followed by a UK tour in November and December.[30][31] Following “New Me”, Eyre released several singles before issuing her third EP, Quarter Life Crisis, in August 2020.[32] During the COVID-19 lockdowns, Eyre underwent vocal surgery that required her to relearn how to speak. After recovering with a clearer sense of self, she parted with Island Records, took ownership of her masters and scrapped all of her unreleased music.[33] Eyre later restarted work on her second studio album, explaining that an earlier iteration did not feel right.[33] In November 2023, she released "Head in the Ground", her first independent single.[34] After several single releases, her second studio album, Everything, in Time, was released on 21 November 2025.[35]

Personal life

From 2015 to 2017, Eyre was in a relationship with Lewi Morgan of the British pop rock band Rixton.[36] In April 2017, her father passed away.[37] She revealed that she suffered from a kidney infection and a severe shellfish allergy during the filming of her "New Me" music video, which caused facial swelling and discharge.[38] In interviews, she has stated that she prefers to keep her current relationships private and is cautious about discussing her romantic life publicly.[39]

Discography

  • Feline (2015)
  • Everything, in Time (2025)

Tours

Headlining:

  • Feline Tour (2014–2015)
  • 2021 UK Tour (2021)

Supporting:

Awards and nominations

Year Organisation Category Nominated work(s) Result Ref.
2014 MTV Brand New for 2014 — Nominated [41]
BRIT Awards Critics' Choice — Nominated [42]
Single of the Year "Waiting All Night" Won [43]
BBC Sound of 2014 — Second place [44]
MOBO Awards Best Newcomer — Won [45]
Best Female — Nominated [46]
2015 BRIT Awards British Single of the Year "Changing" (with Sigma) Nominated [47]
MOBO Awards Best Female — Won [48]
2017 UK Music Video Awards Best Pop Video – UK "Came Here for Love" (with Sigala) Nominated [49]
2018 UK Music Video Awards Best Dance Video – UK "Answerphone" (with Banx & Ranx) Nominated [50]
2020 The Global Awards Best Female — Nominated [51]
Best British Act — Nominated [51]
Popjustice £20 Music Prize Best British Pop Single "New Me" Nominated [52]

References

  1. ^ Amelia Abraham, "A First Date with... Ella Eyre", Noisey.
  2. ^ a b "Ella Eyre interview: 'I have a posh accent, so people assume I am privileged'". The Independent. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  3. ^ a b "heir to the pop throne, Ella Eyre". i-D Magazine. 18 March 2014. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  4. ^ Tom Lamont, "Ella Eyre: 'I wake up every day and life is different'" Archived 23 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine, The Guardian, 22 June 2014.
  5. ^ David Smyth, "Another Ella to remember: Ella Eyre interview" Archived 18 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine, Egypt Standard, 4 July 2014.
  6. ^ "ONE FROM THE ARCHIVES – THE INTERVIEW: ELLA EYRE" Archived 18 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine, Hunger TV, 19 June 2015.
  7. ^ "Ella Eyre: 'I didn't know if I would ever be able to sing again'". Evening Standard. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  8. ^ "10 times Ella Eyre showed off her incredible vocals". Key 103. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  9. ^ "Critics' Choice nominee: Ella Eyre". Brit Awards. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  10. ^ Griffiths, Sarah Jane (9 January 2014). "BBC Sound of 2014: Ella Eyre". BBC News. Archived from the original on 18 September 2016.
  11. ^ "Ella Eyre". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 17 July 2015.
  12. ^ Blake, Jimmy (5 January 2015). "Sound Of 2015: What the class of 2014 did next". Newsbeat.
  13. ^ "Rudimental and Ella Eyre's 'Waiting All Night' wins British Single". Brit Awards. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  14. ^ Copsey, Rob (17 June 2015). "Ella Eyre announces new single Good Times". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015.
  15. ^ "Ella Eyre Wins Best Newcomer at the MOBO Awards 2014". What's Good?. 22 October 2014. Archived from the original on 23 October 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  16. ^ Denham, Jess (23 May 2015). "Germany at Eurovision 2015: Ella Eyre co-wrote Ann Sophie's entry 'Black Smoke'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015.
  17. ^ "Ella Eyre on Olly Murs, Eurovision and sexy confidence". Nottingham Post. 15 April 2015. Archived from the original on 8 October 2015.
  18. ^ "Brit Sensation Ella Eyre Is New Face Of Emporio Armani Diamonds". Grazia. 24 June 2015. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015.
  19. ^ Walters, Sarah (17 April 2015). "Ella Eyre is ready to take on stadiums – and Feline fearless!". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015.
  20. ^ "Ella Eyre interview: "There will always be pressure"". Digital Spy. 19 September 2014. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014.
  21. ^ "Ella Eyre to release Swing Low, Sweet Chariot single". Englandrugby.com. 1 July 2015. Archived from the original on 27 January 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  22. ^ "Ella Eyre Wins Best Female at the MOBO Awards 2015". The Daily Telegraph. 5 November 2015. Archived from the original on 6 November 2015.
  23. ^ "Ella Eyre announces UK tour for November – O2 Priority Tickets details". NME. 12 May 2015. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015.
  24. ^ "Ella Eyre announces live return with KOKO London show – how to get tickets". Get West London. 20 February 2017. Archived from the original on 26 February 2017.
  25. ^ "Exclusive: An interview with Ella Eyre and Banx & Ranx". CelebMix. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  26. ^ "Who's taking part in Bake Off's celebrity special?". BBC News. 8 February 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  27. ^ "Sigala's Just Got Paid climbs to Official Trending Chart Number 1". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  28. ^ "'Now is her time': Ella Eyre signs to Island". Music Week.
  29. ^ "Ella Eyre blasts back with new single "Mama"". The Line of Best Fit.
  30. ^ "Ella Eyre on getting out of toxic situations". British GQ. 24 January 2020.
  31. ^ Savage, Mark (29 January 2020). "How Ella Eyre fought her way out of the pop wilderness". BBC News.
  32. ^ "Ella Eyre's new EP 'Quarter Life Crisis' is OUT NOW!". Tileyard Music. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  33. ^ a b "Ella Eyre details forthcoming second album, everything, in time". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  34. ^ "Ella Eyre Enters A New Era With 'Head In The Ground'". Clash Music. 24 November 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  35. ^ "Ella Eyre review, Everything, in Time: Pop singer delivers a confident comeback". The Independent. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  36. ^ "Ella Eyre and Lewi Morgan split". 2 February 2017. Archived from the original on 29 January 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  37. ^ "Ella Eyre interview: 'I have a posh accent, so people assume I am privileged'". The Independent. 18 January 2020.
  38. ^ Savage, Mark (29 January 2020). "How Ella Eyre fought her way out of the pop wilderness". BBC News. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  39. ^ "Ella Eyre on keeping her love life private". Evening Standard. Retrieved 27 March 2026.
  40. ^ Stickler, Jon (25 March 2026). "Jess Glynne, Ella Eyre And More Join Line-up For Maroon 5's BST Hyde Park Show This Summer". Stereo Board. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  41. ^ "MTV's Brand New For 2014 Nominees announced". MTV. Archived from the original on 11 January 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  42. ^ "Ella Eyre 'blown away' after Brit Critics' Choice nod". BBC News. 5 December 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  43. ^ "Brit Awards nominations 2014: full list". The Telegraph. 9 January 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  44. ^ "BBC Sound of 2014: Ella Eyre takes second place". BBC News. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  45. ^ "Ella Eyre says winning Best Newcomer at the MOBOs was 'mental'". Evening Standard. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2026.
  46. ^ "MOBO Awards 2014 nominations revealed". Official Charts Company. 23 September 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2026.
  47. ^ "Brit Awards 2015: Nominations list in full". The Independent. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2026.
  48. ^ "Krept And Conan, Stormzy and Ella Eyre among 2015 MOBO Awards winners". Stereoboard. 5 November 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2026.
  49. ^ "UK Music Video Awards 2017: nominations announced". Promonews. 21 September 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2026.
  50. ^ "UK Music Video Awards 2018: nominations announced". Promonews. 27 September 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2026.
  51. ^ a b "The Global Awards 2020: Winners and nominations list". Capital FM. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2026.
  52. ^ "The Popjustice Twenty Quid Music Prize". Popjustice. Retrieved 27 March 2026.
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