Introducing: Ella May Thomas

When Music Republic Magazine tipped her as “a young, raw, promising talent” back in 2021, they weren’t wrong. Named after Ella Fitzgerald and raised on a steady diet of jazz, soul, and psychedelia, Ella May Thomas is now carving out a sound that’s entirely her own. Blending neo-psychedelic indie-pop with hip-hop grooves and dreamy jazz textures, the self-produced artist is building something bold, fresh, and unmistakably hers. We caught up with her to talk beat-making, musical roots, and what’s coming next.

1. You were quite literally born into music, with jazz and soul filling your childhood home. How did growing up with such rich musical influences shape the artist you’re becoming today?

The classic answer here would be to say that I started playing the bagpipes at 18 months old or something ridiculous, but in reality when I was a child, it was always about sitting back and listening to the adults – their conversations and, more importantly, their music choices. My mum had a fantastic soul, disco and reggae record collection, including a Peter Tosh album that had a scratch-and-sniff sticker that smelt of weed – my 12-year-old self obviously loved that. My dad has all of the Beatles LPs, bought from a record shop in his hometown of Wrexham in Wales, just around the bay from Liverpool. As well as being a Beatles connoisseur, my dad is an excellent jazz pianist, so a lot of my childhood was hearing those major 7ths drifting up the stairs to my room.

2. Your music weaves together neo-psychedelia, indie-pop, hip-hop, and jazz — not an easy blend to pull off. How do you approach fusing these genres while still staying true to your own sound?

I found it super hard to pick those genres, and judging by all the hyphens, even the genres themselves find it hard to figure out who they are! I guess it’s a case of understanding that every artist is a product of their environment, and I guess my sound is just an unconscious reflection of my favourite artists, all muddled together to become me. I think of it like a fruit machine, with a different combination of genres appearing on each song, but it’s the same gambler each time…betting their live savings away…

3. Being named after Ella Fitzgerald feels like destiny — do you feel a connection to her legacy, and has it influenced how you approach your vocals or songwriting?

Definitely! I’ve read lots about her life and she had to overcome a heck of a lot of hardship to become the ‘First Lady of Song’. Whilst I’d never claim my vocals to be anywhere near ‘Ella-level,’ I certainly draw on her vocal scatting and that injection of fun and spontaneity that she puts into her performances.

4. As a self-produced artist drawing inspiration from The Zombies to A Tribe Called Quest, what’s your process like when you sit down to start a new track? Where do you usually begin — beat, lyric, vibe?

I'd usually start off with a guitar or piano and some vocal scatting to figure out the melody and chords. I then add percussion ASAP, as I believe that’s what gives the song its life – or more accurately, its heartbeat!

5. Music Republic Magazine called you a “raw, promising talent” — how do you feel about that early recognition, and what do you hope people take away from your music as your sound continues to evolve?

I was so chuffed when they said that, and I think it sums my music up – my recent music is fun and not too polished, but I have a new song in the pipeline that’s a little more serious – basically, I can’t pigeonhole my sound and I hope no one pigeonholes me!