Ego Ella May

Ego Ella May ( /ɛg-oʊ ˈɛl.ə meɪ/ eh-go eh-luh may born 1992) is an R&B, neo-soul, and contemporary jazz musician from South London, England.

Early life

Ella May was born in Croydon. She was named for her Nigerian heritage and after Ella Fitzgerald. She started singing in her late teens. At age 19, she taught herself how to play guitar, make beats, and produce her own music.

Career

2014–2018

In 2014, Ella May released her first EP, ''Breathing Underwater'', which ''AFROPUNK'' stated, "gave me goose bumps from start to finish". '' ''Vice'''' described her as "the future sound of neo-soul".

In 2015, she published her EP, ''Zero'', which ''SPIN'' dubbed, "an irresistible combination of soul, jazz and electronic".

In 2018, her track "Table for One", made '' The New York Times'' list of most notable new songs. It was included in the soundtrack for the third season of '' Sex Education''.

2019–2021

In 2019, Ella May released, "Tea & Sympathy". '' Earmilk'' called the track "an absolute feast for the ears". Her song "Girls Don’t Always Sing About Boys" was described as stunning by '' OnSmash''.

In 2020, she released the single "Give A Little", which '' Clash'' declared a superb preview and likened to Guru's Jazzmatazz. She released a second single, "How Long Til’ We’re Home?" about feeling, "too African for Britain, too British for Africa." Ella May was signed by John Boyega's label, Upper Room Records. Her album, ''Honey For Wounds'' was the first to be put out by the label. ''Vinyl Chapters'' gave the album a 4/5 review, writing, "it's a thoughtful and gently soulful album from a fresh talented artist that has a big future ahead of her". Ella May waited to release ''Honey For Wounds'', due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but decided "there may never be a better time" to release the project. She won Best Jazz Act at the 2020 MOBO Awards. She performed her songs on ''COLORS'' in July 2020.

In 2021, Ella May was shortlisted for Soul Act of the Year and Vocalist of the Year at the Jazz FM awards. She won Vocalist of the Year. Her song "Breathe" was featured in ''Billboard'''s "R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week". Her tracks, "Give A Little" and "Alright", we’re featured in soundtracks for ''Insecure'' and ''Queen Sugar''. ''GRM Daily'' wrote, "contemporary visionary Ego Ella May continues to showcase the elegance she possesses as one of the top up and coming singers to grace our ears". ''Crash'' called her single "Introvert Hotline" divine. She performed on ''BBC Four'' with a 42-piece orchestra for the EFG London Jazz Festival at London's Royal Festival Hall, premiering her track, "For the Both of Us". Ella May also performed at The British Music Embassy, the official UK residency for SXSW.

2022–present

In 2022, she covered "The Morning Side of Love", by Chico Hamilton, from Hamilton's 1975 Blue Note album ''Peregrinations''. The track was featured on ''Blue Note Re:Imagined II,'' released by Universal Music Group. ''Albumism'' described the song as the "perfect slice of summertime bliss". ''Soul House'' wrote, "Ella May sprinkles her vocal magic over an understated arrangement." In reaction to the release of her track, "Miss U", '' Soul Bounce'' commented, "Ego Ella May and her unflinching approach to introspective songwriting is one of the best things to happen in music." She was featured on Beau Diako's song, "Alone", and Allysha Joy's "Calling You".

In 2023, she was featured on Kay Young's track "Woe is Me", which ''Clash'' described as, "intoxicating future soul, with the production carrying a Dilla-esque warmth."

''WDET-FM'' has described Ella May as having "a voice that evokes shades of Billie Holiday, Erykah Badu, and Kissey". She is considered by '' The Guardian'' to be a "star of the UK soul renaissance".

Discography

Albums

''Honey for Wounds (Deluxe)'', Upper Room Records, 2021

''Honey for Wounds'', Upper Room Records, 2020

''So Far'', Tru Thoughts, 2019

Extended plays

''Fieldnotes Pt III'', 2023

''By the Way'', Sony Music, 2023

''Fieldnotes Pt II'', 2022

''Fieldnotes'', 2021

''Zero'', 2015

''Breathing Underwater'', 2014

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:May, Ego Ella
1992 births
21st-century Nigerian women singers
English people of Nigerian descent
English women pop singers
English women singer-songwriters
English-language singers from Nigeria
British contemporary R&B singers
Living people
Nigerian contemporary R&B singers
Nigerian women singer-songwriters
Nigerian singer-songwriters
Yoruba women musicians
21st-century Black British women singers
Singers from the London Borough of Croydon
Musicians from the London Borough of Croydon
People from Croydon