Artist Of The Week #293 - Ella Jinks
This week's Artist of the Week is London based singer songwriter Ella Jinks - who has just released her second EP 'The In Between'.
There is a dichotomy at the heart of Ella Jinks that makes her a fascinating artistic proposition. Her voice is utterly distinctive: a rich, sonorous vocal which conveys emotional resonance in a style that can only come from someone with a wealth of life experience behind her. Her songwriting is just as classic, her bluesy, soulful indie-folk singer-songwriter style possessing a timelessness which echoes influences such as Laura Marling, Joni Mitchell and Lianne La Havas. And yet for all of her older soul, Ella's lyrics tap into the eternal themes of young adulthood - discovering who you are, accepting your strengths, weaknesses and foibles, and learning to grow.
All of these traits fall into sharp focus as the 24-year-old, from Walthamstow, east London, prepares to release her second EP 'The In Between' early in 2025. It represents a bold step forward from the skeletal intimacy of her 2023 debut 'Conversations', with grander, full live-band productions supported by elegant vocal harmonies and evocative string arrangements.
She took a moment to talk to us about how the EP came together.
Hey there Ella, how are you? So your EP is out now – how does it feel to have it out there?.
Hey, I’m doing really good thanks! It feels a little bit surreal to have the EP out. It’s a project that technically started all the way back in 2020…so it’s been a long time coming but I’m so happy to have it out in the world and for people to hear this new chapter of my music.
It is called ‘The In Between’ – what is the meaning behind that?
I named the EP after the song ‘The In Between’ because it really reflects how I was feeling at the time of writing the project. It’s about being in that space between discovering the more uncomfortable parts of myself and learning to accept them. Writing each song felt sort of like a confession and a cathartic release - it was a way of understanding myself better. Now, sharing the music feels like a way to express myself and reclaim those parts of myself I used to struggle with, learning to see them not as flaws, but as important parts of who I am.
Where was it recorded? Any behind the scenes stories you are willing to share with us?
The EP was recorded at Urchin Studios with my co-writer and producer, Matt Ingram. Looking back, the recording process stands out as one of my favourite memories. We had so much fun making it, working together intensely over a few weeks. I also think what made the experience more special was the confidence I had going into this project, compared to my debut EP. There was a different energy this time around. Working so closely with Matt, both on writing and recording, created a level of intimacy that made the whole process feel smooth and natural. Since we both knew the songs inside and out, it made it easy to figure out how we wanted this project to progress sonically from the first EP.
What are the key influences behind the EP?
There were a lot of influences that shaped the production and recording process of ‘The In Between.’ For example ,one key element I wanted to explore was giving the bass a much more prominent role, creating a stronger connection between it and the lead vocal, almost like they were conversing with each other. You’ll notice throughout the EP a lot of call-and-response moments between the lead vocal and the bass, which was loosely inspired by Billie Marten’s song ‘Willow.
I also took a lot of inspiration for the strings on this EP from Ray la montage album til the sun turns black. I loved how the strings built throughout each song. So we tried to achieve this specifically for ‘Just another day’ . From a songwriting point of view, I took a lot of inspiration from Big theif, Flyte, and Joni Mitchell.
If the EP could be a soundtrack to any film – which one and why?
I think I’d choose About Time. It’s one of my favourite films, and has similar themes with the EP. The film’s core messages are about being present, finding beauty, joy, and meaning not just in big milestones, but in the everyday moments. For me, "The In Between" is exactly that—embracing the little things, even alongside pain or sadness. If you haven’t watched I highly recommend the film.
Do you have a favourite lyric on the EP? If so, which one and why?
While ‘Just Another Day’ is probably my favourite song on the EP, my favourite lyric has to be from ‘This Fall’: ‘Maybe it would save me the pain, but then there would be nothing left to gain, or feel… So I think I’d rather take this fall than never feel anything at all.’ The message behind these lyrics has always resonated deeply with me. It’s something I reflect on often, especially in challenging situations. It’s about embracing the pain and allowing ourselves to truly feel, rather than shutting ourselves off and missing out on the full experience of life.
Now the EP is out there – what next for you?
I’m currently working towards writing my next project and so my focus is mainly on finishing that. I often struggle to write when I’m in the process of releasing music so I really want to take some time to gather my ideas and think how I want this next project to sound. There also might be a headline show in the works to celebrate the EP release soon.
