Exploring the Raw Truths Behind Ella Galvin’s Single “Spare Me”
By: Zoe Blakeman – Photo by: Lauren Cassot
Ella Galvin’s single “Spare Me” features the raw truth behind avoiding relationships, learning from heartbreak, and features Galvin’s first guitar performance in her music. Galvin comes from New York bringing a new unnamed genre of music blending pop, soul, punk, and jazz to create a brand new sound. Galvin often plays life shows with original and authentic instrumentation that brings a realness and rawness to her music.
While Galvin has released only three singles, “Spare Me” is the first single of an EP coming our way soon. Check out the Q&A below to dive deeper into Galvin’s creative processes, performances, and the discovery of a new genre!
ZB: What was the inspiration behind your new single “Spare Me,” and what led you to write it in one sitting without making any changes?
EG: I was seeing this person from Canada who lives far away, but I’m always trying to avoid the inconveniences of a relationship. I know it’s going to end, and be annoying, and I just don’t want to deal with it. I’ve never really let myself have strong feelings for someone, but this was the first time I let myself feel these feelings. You can learn from these feelings, like what you do or don’t want.
Everyone experiences this, and I started out being really sad when this ended, but I realized I’d rather have an experience that’s wonderful and nice instead of avoiding it all. I asked myself, is it worth the pain? Normally, I would’ve said no.
But after these experiences, I would say that yeah, it is. I had such a strong feeling about this song and what was going into it that I didn’t really want to change what had poured out of me. I usually come up with one lyric and build off of that for the rest of the song. The idea of “spare me the drama” or the inconvenience was already in my head so I just ran with it.
It’s such a real and raw feeling. I recorded it on the day that I wrote it so my producers would understand the vibe I wanted for the song. It’s also the first song of mine where I play the guitar! I broke both of my elbows back in Chicago a few years back, so I finally got the chance to learn how to play and create my own sound.
ZB: How would you describe the overall sound and vibe of your upcoming debut EP, and what can listeners expect from it?
EG: Since this is my first EP I’m trying to experiment with many sounds and genres, while also figuring out what I like to create. All of the songs are different. One is more singer-songwriter while another is very pop-soul, another is pop-punk and I have a heavy jazz song as well. It’s been really fun to experiment with a ton of different sounds and genres. It’s really helping me find my own sound, which can be hard.
ZB: Can you share a bit about your journey as a musician, from performing in fusion bands to branching out with your solo project?
EG: A fusion band, or the one I was in, blended jazz, punk, pop, rock, and soul. We played some Stevie Wonder and songs like “Sister Golden Hair,” which then turned into a sort of retro-soul sound for us. I joined a band senior year of high school, though I had always been singing, which was the first real musical endeavor I took on outside of school. I realized I loved performing live. I went to college, but the band kind of died out as we all went in different directions.
The guitarist from that band and I started a new band that was super pop-soul with a lot of horns. After that band ended with college, I moved to New York and started my own music. It’s really fun to be the creative director of my own music and persona. In a band, everyone has to be an individual working together, but on my own, I can be an individual working all of the parts and angles and change what I want.
ZB: You mentioned combining pop, soul, jazz, and rock influences in your new EP. How do you approach blending these genres to create your unique sound?
EG: My unique sound is always developing. It’s never constant. I just solidified the track list for this EP and realized all of the songs are very different from each other. I wonder is this a good thing, a bad thing, is this even allowed? But I don’t think we should put ourselves in boxes and let one genre define us. I’ve always had ideas about exploring different genres or mixing up lyrics written for one genre and playing it in another.
Blending genres is definitely the goal, but I can’t say that’s what I’m doing. That’s for you guys to decide! I don’t know if I’m good at blending genres yet, but I want to have a genre that you can’t put a label on. I’m interested to see how people respond to my EP. I’ve been sitting on these songs for so long it’s all I’ve been listening to, so in a sense, it’s all I know right now. But, it’s been really really fun to experiment with all of that stuff for sure.
ZB: What are your thoughts on the music scene in New York City, and how has it influenced your musical style and career?
EG: One of the reasons I moved to New York was because most of the small artists I followed [on social media] were based out of New York and made the kind of music I was interested in. I had seen them play at all of these small venues that I wanted to play in. I was trying to go down the same path as them, so I figured the best way to do that was to go to New York. I’ve also met so many amazing people that I’ve been around, whether that be an actual artist, or a booking agent, etc.
It’s so fun to see people do this type of thing. It’s hard and a lot of work, so to see people putting their all out on stage makes me so happy to be where I am. This obviously isn’t a money job, but it’s something you do for the love of it. All of these people understand it’s a struggle, but we talk about how much we love to create and how rewarding it can truly be.
Lately, I’ve been going to more jam sessions where I’ve met so many awesome people. I now have a list of all of the guitarists I know, and all of the bassists I know, so if someone cancels on my show last minute, I have people I can call to help me out. And they do!
ZB: The storytelling in your music captures the charm, discomfort, and introspection of being a young, queer woman. How important is it for you to share your personal experiences through your songs?
EG: So many people sing and write music. Why do I feel like my songs need to be heard? I’m making my songs because I enjoy it and hope people can relate. I hope when people listen to my music they enjoy it or it’s at a time in their lives where they need to hear what I have to say.
Jon Batiste gave such an amazing speech when he won Album of the Year a few years ago. He said that there is no best artist or best album, but that music finds people when you need it the most. That is the goal. I love it when people compliment my lyrics or my sound after a show because it means they resonate with my music. That’s why I do all of this!
ZB: How do you go about being personal and relatable, but not sharing too much of your life through your music?
EG: This is the first song that I’m putting out that is very clearly about someone and I’m sure they know it’s about them. It’s hard! You don’t want to be too specific, but the more specific you are the more people can connect with your music. It’s hard trying to find this balance, if there even is one, and to know when you’ve said too much.
I think some artists just take it all the way and spill their guts out for people to hear. I can’t do that just yet, but maybe someday. Ultimately, it’s a song about me that I wrote about my experience. It’s not about the other person, only how this situation impacted me.
ZB: With “Spare Me” being your first single from the EP, what message or emotions do you hope listeners take away from it?
EG: I want people to realize that no relationship you have with someone, no matter how long or how short, is a waste. Just because you dated someone for 6 years and now want to end it doesn’t mean it was a waste of 6 years. You learn from all of these experiences. That’s what this song is truly about. The relationship was great, but then it sucked and was sad for me, but it was such a good learning opportunity. I got to have fun and got to know someone I wouldn’t have gotten to know another way.
ZB: Can you give us a glimpse into your live performances? How do you translate your recorded music into captivating live shows?
EG: I love using only live instruments for shows because it’s a fun challenge trying to recreate what these tracks sound like. A lot of these tracks also were written based on how we played them live. “Spare Me” was recorded before we played it live, but it’ll be interesting to see how different it sounds on stage from when I first wrote it. It’s all live instrumentation which gives us new ideas and the chance to be random and surprising which I love. I’ve been playing guitar a lot more at some of my live shows which is super exciting. It’s just a really good time.
ZB: Looking ahead, what are your aspirations and goals as an artist, and what can fans expect from you in the future?
EG: I have a lot of goals. I’m a huge goal-setter which can get a little crazy. I really want to go on tour, whether it’s just on the East Coast or larger, I really want to meet people in different places and have that experience. I think that’s the first step. I also want to keep experimenting with my sound and to have an idea of what that solidified sound will be. So I can put my own label on it.
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Links:
Official: https://www.ellagalvinmusic.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellagalvinmusic
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/ellagalvinmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellagalvin