Ella Thompson in Paris and London
Effortlessly blending timeless soul with a distinctly modern voice, singer-songwriter Ella Thompson is one of Australia’s most exciting new artists. This Thursday 29 October you have the unique opportunity to see her with a full live band in an intimate settting in London and the day after in Paris, launching her brand new album Triumph&Sadness.
Cutting her teeth touring with Mark Ronson and the Bamboos and supporting artists such as Jalen Ngonda, Lee Fields and Thee Sacred Souls, she bridged worlds in the process. Two solo releases followed in quick succession, the 7-track EP Domino in 2023, and LP Ripple on the Wing in 2024, both released on Australian label Hopestreet Recordings, as Thompson began to hit her stride, laying the foundations for what is without doubt her most confident record yet.
Triumph & Sadness was recorded live across four intense days at the all-analogue Sound Recordings studio in Rural Victoria, capturing 15 tracks direct to tape with all the urgency, depth and warmth of the ‘60s and ‘70s sessions that first inspired her. Whittled down to 10, with additional sessions for horns vocals and overdubs at Sound Park in Northcote, the album was mixed by Daptone and The Womack Sisters collaborator Wayne Gordon, to further bring out the raw and human chemistry of the moment.
We had the opportunity to ask Ella a few questions while she already turned up in Paris a couple of days before her first European show.
TNF: Triumph & Sadness was recorded analogue with musicians from the Melbourne soul music scene from bands such as Surprise Chef and Karate Boogaloo. How was the experience with these musicians and why is recording on tape important for your music?
Ella: "I am very grateful to be part of such an inspiring musical community in Melbourne. When your friends make great records it makes you want to make great records too and share that experience together. This was the first album I’ve made an album using predominantly tape and analogue recording. More than anything it’s about the process and capturing the performance and energy in the room without fussing and editing too much. The songwriting and arrangement have to be carefully considered as that helps everything else flow. I’m happy with the warmth of this album and I think it’s due to the process, the team, performance and writing.
TNF: Judging by the album title Triumph & Sadness and listening to the lyrics, the contrast between personal contact and the distant society seems to be a recurring theme on the album. Do you think that soul music with its urge for human connection can still play a role in the society today as it did in earlier years?
Ella: "For me Soul Music represents our interconnectedness as a society and with our environment. Soul Music has taught me a lot about the world and those values are still as important as ever."
TNF: You will play your own work live in Europe for the first time with two shows in renowned clubs in Paris and London. What are your expectations and what can the audience expect?
Ella: "I am really looking forward to playing these first debut shows in London and Paris and am trying not to have too many expectations other than bring the music our live into the universe.
TNF: Soul singer Renée Geyer was your coach and is still an inspiration. You've played a lot with the Bamboos alongside singer Kylie Auldist. What are the most important things you learned from these and other singers that you still benefit from now?
Ella: "Yes these two powerhouse icons of Australian Soul have been so generous and inspiring to me. They both demonstrated that you’ve just got to keep making what you want to make because it’s what you have to do! "
The new album is available in our online record store. Tracks of the new album are placed in our Spotify playlists. For the upcoming concerts, Ella Thompson brings a full live band consisting of great musicians from Australia, New Zealand and the UK (we came to know from Chris Boot from Mamas Gun himself that he will be on the drums! - read the interview we had with him earlier where he expressed his appreciation for Ella Thompson)
Concert Details:
Friday 30 October Les Trois Baudets, 64 Bd de Clichy Baudets Paris
27 October Jeroen van Genuchten
