Ellie Goulding recently made headlines with her announcement that she'll be stepping back from music this year, but with a major new beauty campaign for Pantene, a run of dates at London's 02 Arena and a slot on the bill at Glastonbury this summer, the singer is hardly resting on her laurels.
As she prepares to take her 'Delirium' tour to the US, we met up with the singer to talk beauty secrets, the importance of a good girl squad and - unexpectedly - how we could be on the brink of apocalypse...
You’ve just announced that you’ll be stepping back from music for a while. Was that a tough decision to make?
No, not at all! [Laughs] The people who know me totally understand it. I’ve worked non-stop now for years, never really having a clean break, and I feel like it’s time now for me to take a step back and reflect on everything that I’ve achieved – all the places I’ve been to, the people I’ve met. It’s hard when you’re in [that place] to really appreciate everything. I’m going to be doing a little bit of humanitarian work, taking time out to educate people about the planet, and eating meat. I’ll still be writing and I’ve got a couple of collaborations coming up, but as far as touring goes, this will be my last one for a while. Sorry!
What’s been the most challenging thing about touring?
The biggest challenge has always been not being able to see my family and friends - not being able to go to weddings, not being able to meet new babies, missing the life events that mark us. I’d say that’s the thing that has made me want to take a step back – I want to watch my niece grow up and spend time with her. I’ve never really been able to fully commit to that for the past seven years, and that’s when lots of big things happened: my sister getting married, my dad coming back in my life again, things like that. It’s been a very important few years that I haven’t fully been able to appreciate.
Female artists are enjoying lots of success right now, but does the industry still feel male dominated?
Yes, 100 percent. Unfortunately it’s quite a common thing. As far as playing festivals goes, I’ve had an amazing run of being invited to play – and to headline – quite male dominated events. When I meet male fronted bands, crew and people that work in music, I feel like I’ve been treated with respect. That doesn’t go for everyone, though, and I’ve complained about the lack of female artists at festivals. I'm someone who wants to create positive change rather than just moan about it - I like to do things. It’s frustrating but there’s a lot of change happening pretty quickly and I think that’s great.
Have you ever come up against sexism as a female artist?
I feel like I say this a lot, but there’s a double standard that I have to deal with when it comes to song writing. Male artists are able to write songs that are incredibly demeaning to women and get away with it, yet I’ve written songs about my experience with a bloke and been made out to be the crazy woman. Why is a man allowed to sing ‘these hoes ain’t loyal?’ There’s also a lot of ‘stop talking about politics, stop talking about climate change, stick to singing,’ but I’m like ‘Sorry, but no!'
Do you feel like the media is more critical when it comes to female artists?
I think that when an artist is not being truly respected and celebrated for what they’ve achieved, that’s completely wrong. If my name is prefixed by something like ‘so and so’s ex girlfriend’ or ‘newly single’ – when I’m defined by my relationship status – that to me is wrong because I’ve achieved a lot, as a woman in music and as a British artist. It’s nice to be known and respected for your achievements, not to be known for your relationships or who you’re friends with.
You're pals with Taylor Swift - do you get annoyed if you're lumped in as part of her 'girl squad'?
No – I’ll take that as a compliment! I think that’s a more positive way of looking at [female relationships.] It’s a beautiful thing for strong, intelligent, passionate women to work together. Taylor is a good friend of mine and she always inspires me – I think she’s incredible. As an artist, I find I don’t really get compared to that many people, which works for me.
Which women in the industry inspire you?
For a start there's my manager Cass, she's unbelievable at her job. Like I said, there's a lot of male managers, but along with my other manager Sarah, she's one of the most badass females in music. Bjork's had an amazing career - she's beautifully unique, beautifully weird. I think it's an amazing thing for someone to have such a long career, never changing for anyone but always evolving. I can listen to her music for hours trying to figure it out - in a good way. There are so many layers to her sound - she's been a big inspiration to me and my music.
Speaking of evolution, your sound has changed significantly with each album. Was that a conscious decision?
It just kind of happens! State of mind is such a big factor in what you end up writing, as it where you are. Writing a song in this room would be a world away from writing back in my home town, and I wrote a lot of the lyrics to my second album in Ireland, where everyone just seems to speak in poetry. I might have read a book that's inspired me, or watched something, or listened to something. Occasionally I go into the studio and I'm determined to write a love song, or a happy song, something uplifting - it really depends on what's in your head.
You've just been announced as the face of Pantene's Strong Is Beautiful campaign. What does that message mean to you?
To me, it's about making lifestyle choices that give you that inner strength - for me, it's all about fitness. The campaign seemed like a perfect fit. I like to take care of myself, and I feel strong when my hair is in the best condition it can be, and when my skin is good - it all ties in.
When do you feel strongest?
I always feel really badass on stage. There are certain points in my show where everything just connects - I never really realise how epic it is until I see the photos afterwards, where I'm obviously singing some kind of crazy note because my face is kind of contorted... There's moments on stage where I think, God, I'm in a good place. It's quite empowering to be up there in front of all those people, singing those songs that I wrote in my bedroom. You can hear a pin drop sometimes - you have to own it! I very rarely use that expression but when you know that all these people are here to see you and listen to you, it's quite an amazing feeling.
How do you stay motivated when it comes to exercise?
I think that people are too hard on themselves. It’s not always been a normal thing for women to be heavily into fitness, but now there’s such an emphasis that it’s gone the other way. You feel you need to train every day, eat well, not drink… I’m trying to get the message across that you can still lead a healthy lifestyle with balance. People think that I’m this crazy fitness nut, but some days I can’t be arsed, some days I don’t have motivation. Mainly, my motivation is seeing my body physically change with the things that I do.
Do you find that exercise gives you headspace, too?
Yes- there needs to be more of an emphasis on the fact that fitness is for wellbeing and for your mind. It’s not just about the way your body physically looks, it’s about what’s in your head. I want to get across that fitness genuinely makes you feel better. Regardless of what you do or how long you do it for, even just getting to the gym in the morning for half an hour makes such a difference to your day. You just have to try it to believe it.
You've worked with lots of great make-up artists - what's the best beauty tip you've picked up along the way?
I finally got really comfortable with my make-up when I realised I didn’t have to wear as much. We’ve all got such unique faces; it’s all about learning the little things that work for you. The more artists I work with, the more things I pick up along the way – they all work in totally different ways, but the main thing is that they never over do it. To make the most out of your features, you don’t need to do that much.
What would be your desert island beauty product?
It has to be mascara. You put your make-up on and then mascara just changes everything, it makes you feel alive - and you never know who's going to come along! It'd have to be waterproof, though.
Have you ever had any beauty horror stories?
I do this thing where I use my lipstick as blusher, and once I did it at the Toronto film festival in a restaurant. I was a bit drunk and I didn’t have a mirror, so I put it on my cheeks because I get paranoid that I’m pale. I just dabbed it on my face then forgot to blend it, so I was talking to a director and was like 'Why’s he staring at me weirdly?' It was because I basically had two round circles of red on my cheeks.
What's the biggest misconception that people have about you?
People tend to think that I'm just this quintessentially British singer that sang at the royal wedding. I get that label a lot, but actually when you see my show you realise that that's not me at all. The fact that I've collaborated with everyone from Major Lazer to Calvin Harris, and even folk artists back in the day, shows I'm much more than that. I'd say I'm a musician, not just a popstar.
Is there anyone in the industry that you'd still like to collaborate with?
I've always wanted to do something with Drake. I'm still convinced that will happen one day, but we'll see...
Is there a song you wished you'd written?
I always wish I'd written 'Dreams' by Fleetwood Mac - it's just beautiful, and uses the same chords all the way through the song, it's genius. Jolene, too - I think that's one of the best songs ever written - and Yesterday by The Beatles. Lyrically it's so timeless and beautiful.
What’s the weirdest thing you’ve read about yourself?
Oh, that I’m posh! I’m not posh – I speak well but there’s a difference. I grew up in a council estate in a place called Kington, and I really could not be less posh. I was a nerd at school I wanted to learn, and I worked hard to get straight As at A level – but that’s not being posh, that’s just working hard, having a good work ethic.
Finally, would you describe yourself as low or high maintenance?
Low, absolutely. I can do my own make-up easily, for events, premieres... I went to watch this amazing documentary last night, called Racing Extinction, which you have to watch. It's about the fact that humans are facing extinction right now.
Sounds pretty cheerful?
It's cheerful in the sense that there's a way to slow it down, it's just that people aren't doing it, and people don't know how severe the situation is. It's all money and politics and vested interests - watch it and you'll totally understand how frustrating it is that more people aren't paying attention. That's why I'm vegetarian, I don't eat meat - the demand for dairy and meat is so huge that it's ruining the environment. Something needs to change or the world is literally going to end. Anyway... Do you want a Quality Street?
Ellie Goulding is the new face of Pantene's Strong Is Beautiful campaign
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