Ellie Goulding
Born: 30 December 1986
Ellie Goulding is an English singer-songwriter. Born in Hereford, she grew up in Kington, Herefordshire and currently lives in London, United Kingdom .
Background:Goulding grew up in Ipswich, England, the second of four children.She began playing the clarinet and writing songs at the age of nine, and at fourteen began learning guitar. She started songwriting at the age of fifteen and while in college she won a singing competition.After commencing a drama course at the University of Kent, where she was exposed to electronic music, she developed her sound with the help of Frankmusik on the track "Wish I Stayed", and Starsmith, who went on to become her chief collaborator and primary producer of Lights. After two years at Kent, she was advised to take a gap year to pursue singing, and moved to West London.Before the release of her debut studio album, Goulding won 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 prize made her the second artist to win both in the same year.
Music career:Signed to Polydor Records in September 2009, she made her debut single. "Under the Sheets", which was released digitally in the United Kingdom on 15 November 2009, peaking outside the top 40. In October 2009 she toured the UK supporting Little Boots, and appeared on Later... with Jools Holland, performing "Under The Sheets" and "Guns and Horses". "Wish I Stayed" was available as a free download as the UK iTunes Store's 'Single of the Week' from 22–28 December 2009.Ellie Goulding scored a few more American fans as she graced the 'Saturday Night Live' stage in New York City last night.On the new music front, the 24-year-old talent has her sights set on working with folk-rockers Mumford and Sons on a new tour. "I'm friends with them and I know that they are fun on tour," Goulding told Spinner. "We've bumped into each other a couple of times in the UK ... It would be nice to see a band that I'm a really big fan of every night."