Ellis J Barraclough a 19-year-old promising singer-songwriter from Hull recently hit the radar with his debut single, “Patience” and has landed his first nationwide tour as the opening act for Simon Fowler and Oscar Harrison from one of his favourite bands, Ocean Colour Scene [Tour dates at bottom of page].
His sound will appeal to fans of modern pop-leaning practitioners of the singer-songwriter tradition like Dermot Kennedy and Tom Grennan, but there is a depth and a variety to Ellis’s sonic palette that’s rare for a musician of his youth.
“Patience” is a song that’s big on bright, road trip melodies fuelled by tangible emotions and a voice with the heartening warmth of an old friend. But scratch the surface and you’ll uncover more textures: a smidgen of Fleetwood Mac West Coast harmonies, a touch of Memphis soul, and an undercurrent of Wilco’s alt-country style.
Ellis says, “It’s about those moments where you get a little bit into your own head for whatever reason. You have to tell yourself, alright: calm down, be patient, and things will work out because at the end of the day, all of those thoughts are just paranoia. I think everyone has a bit of that anxiety at times.”
Music was always a big part of Ellis’s upbringing. His grandfather was a gigging musician, his uncle’s band almost made a big breakthrough as part of the early 2000s indie scene, and both would be present at rambunctious family jam sessions each Boxing Day.
A fan of The Beatles and Kings of Leon, Ellis was a natural when he picked up a guitar at the age of seven, and soon discovered he was just as naturally talented as a songwriter. His teenage bands varied from Tool and Deftones-flavoured alt-metal to reggae, but he always gravitated to the kind of music that he currently plays.
His first steps were local pub gigs, before his first big paid gig came in unusual circumstances, when he opened at a book launch for the comedian and writer Lucy Beaumont, who described him as “insanely talented.” He also met a mentor in the shape of Vincent Garcia, veteran of Drizabone, the ‘90s soul/acid-jazz band who scored a big hit with “Real Love” and whose remix of Shanice’s “I Like Your Smile” turned the original into an international smash.
His respect for his home city’s music culture inspired his Hull Cover Series on socials, in which he performed takes on songs from renowned local musicians such as The Beautiful South and Calum Scott. But he also dug deeper, covering Sade in honour of her bandmates and co-writers from Hull, and David Bowie’s”‘Starman”, in recognition of the city’s Spiders From Mars band members Mick Ronson, Trevor Bolder and Mick Woodmansey.
“I tried to be a plumber, but got sacked on the second day of the apprenticeship, and I’ve been a pot washer in four different pubs. Now I want to make that leap from pot washer to plumber to fu**in’ pop star.”
Ellis now shares his sophomore single “Blasphemy”. The song was written solely by Ellis and produced by Vincent Garcia. The ‘Blasphemy’ video further highlights Ellis’s future star potential.
His performance captures his personality – the natural bonhomie and relaxed vibe of a young guy with quiet self-confidence in what he does. And the setting certainly helps unlock that vibe, with the performance having been filmed on the canals of Venice.
Having previously played the BBC Introducing Stage at the Humber Street Sesh, Ellis debuted his new five-piece live band, The Sunscreen, when he headlined in Manchester and Hull in May. He is confirmed for the Off The Tracks Festival in Castle Donington at the end of August.
We say: EJB is OTW [ One To Watch!]
Simon Fowler & Oscar Harrison UK Tour
Oct 2 – Frome, Cheese & Grain
Oct 3 – Cardiff, Tramshed
Oct 4 – Basingstoke, The Haymarket
Oct 5 – Lincoln, The Drill
Oct 9 – Gateshead, The Glasshouse
Oct 10 – Stamford, Corn Exchange Theatre
Oct 11 – Manchester, RNCM
Oct 16 – Bury St Edmunds, The Apex
Oct 17 – Walsall, Walsall Arena
Oct 18 – Poole, Lighthouse
Oct 19 – London, Islington Assembly Hall
Oct 23 – Leeds, City Varieties Music Hall
Oct 24 – Coventry, Warwick Arts Centre
Oct 25 – Bexhill, De La Warr Pavilion
