'Chapter One' by Ella Henderson

Chapter One

by Ella Henderson

Release Date - 10th October 2014

The X Factor is a funny one for me... I am neither a hater or lover of the programme because I usually find that the acts Simon usually picks after they are kicked off the show, rather than the one's who win, usually make their way into my viewing- Ella is an example of this. I did not watch the X Factor when she was on it, yet found her performances gaining lots of views on YouTube and her name kept appearing on Twitter and in the media, more so than the person who won the competition.. I have always said just because an artist uses X Factor as their way into the industry does not make them in any way less of a talent and in fact, when they produce successful songs and albums, I admire them. They were able to go through a very produced and public driven programme and yet, are able to stand out and stand upon the top of the charts, becoming some of the best acts in their genre: One Direction and Olly Murs also further this theory. It is these acts, the acts who didn't win the record deal but instead, through the buzz created when they used the platform, earnt it, who usually surprise me. I think it down to the fact these artists don't have the pressure of pleasing the public that voted them winner (which is the wrong way to write music) but instead, since they weren't the general x factor watcher favourite, can produce music that doesn't have to fit that audience. When you aren't catering for a specific listener, I believe your music can sound more like yourself.

Chapter One most definitely marks an important part in Ella's musicianship. She has created an album which introduces all listeners into the kind of artist she is, inviting us into a melodic driven and powerful vocal experience, seeing the fusion of rock, electronics and blues influences to create a warm and diverse pop album which explores and pushes more than most other albums of this genre. I feel satisfied saying Chapter One is an introduction and glimpse of what this girl can produce, only making me excited and interested to what she has to give next. Each song can stand on it's own and gives us another insight into the kind of artist Ella is, and that is before I even listened to the lyrics properly.

Overall, the album is unique in that I can't think of one that is exactly similar but I feel like Ella is what would be produced if 'Adele' and 'Christina Aguilera' decided to make an album together. Each song has outstanding vocals, pushing Ella's singing abilities to their very strengths and I say strengths because their is never any indication this girl is struggling with any of the notes she chooses to reach, low or high. Each lyric is felt, with true emotion behind every word, expressing her experiences emotively. There is a stronger pop influence than Adele; songs such as 'Pieces' and 'Empire' incorporate some more common pop/rock and electronic traits to push the tempo onward however, we are still given ballads, such as 'Yours' and 'Beautifully Unfinished' which soulfully induce listeners into a calm and emotive state, moved by the subtle but suspended piano chords and the strong but soft melodies. Yet, we cannot forget Ella is only young, born in '1996' as she describers in a sweet and innocent little song on the deluxe version of the album, so it's important that her youth is not ignored. Songs such as 'Billy Holiday' keep the album's identity as fun, seeing lyrics and instrumentals which just want to make you sing along and dance, proving to us Ella is not being portrayed as a prestigious and know-it-all artist, reminding herself and the listeners this is still her first album and she is still growing, which if anything, could make you even more impressed. This is her first shot; what a success.

As I said before, I am intrigued and hopeful for more music in the future, interested to see what Chapter Two can hold! Well done Ella; on seeing her first audition on YouTube, it is great to see a girl who has grown in this industry, creating a mature sound which hasn't forgotten what she was before.

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