Physical copies to be available here for the first time
Following her long-awaited return to the UK & Ireland last October, Lindsay Ell - one of the most highly anticipated acts of this year’s Country to Country (C2C) Festival in London - has confirmed a UK physical release for her critically acclaimed debut album ‘The Project’ (BMG/BBR) on March 9th 2018; led by the US hit single ‘Waiting On You’. Ell is due to perform on various stages across the O2 Arena during C2C - including a set on the prestigious BBC Radio 2 stage, and a Satellite Stage performance in the main arena on Sunday 11th March - before heading out on the road for further UK tour dates (onsale today):
10th March - C2C Festival, O2 Arena London
11th March - C2C Festival, O2 Arena London
13th March - O2 ABC 2, Glasgow (C2C Roadshow)
14th March - O2 Institute 3, Birmingham (C2C Roadshow)
15th March - The Ruby Lounge, Manchester (C2C Roadshow)
For the rising star, the debut, which hit the #1 slot on the Nielsen SoundScan country albums chart in the US, has been a long time coming... sent on a mission of personal discovery to unleash the vibrant, soul-bearing country artist long predicted by fans and critics alike, Ell’s journey is now complete – and ‘The Project’ is the result. Comprised of 12 gripping, heart-on-her-sleeve tracks and produced by Sugarland’s Kristian Bush, the album is the musical calling card Ell’s been working toward her whole life – from her childhood in Calgary, Alberta; through her time opening shows for blues legend Buddy Guy; and even with attention-grabbing country singles “Trippin’ On Us” and “By the Way.”
“I feel like I’ve finally found myself,” Ell beams about ‘The Project’. “I’m a better guitar player, I’m a better singer, I’m a better songwriter. I’m just a different artist, and I’ve never felt about music the way I do now.” Grooving, diverse, and emotionally charged, it’s easy to hear what Ell means. ‘The Project’ reveals every aspect of her abundant talent – from her fiery guitar prowess to her crisp, inviting vocals ... and even her new knack for vulnerable song craft.
It’s funky, bluesy, and full of pop-country sweetness, but also delicate and – at times – brutally honest, as Ell’s heart is placed front and center on each track. She embraces the anything-goes fun of country’s future but also holds fast to its traditions, focusing on real instruments and co-writing nine of The Project’s songs to create something both unique and self-assured. For the first time, Ell’s music feels 100 percent “Lindsay,” and part of the reason for that is the growing up she’s done over the past few years.
The young singer-songwriter has traveled the world with artists like The Band Perry - including her first visit to the UK in 2013 - and Luke Bryan; showcased her multi-instrumental dexterity as one of CMT’s Next Women of Country; returned to the UK for a headline tour in 2015; and is currently trading guitar solos with superstar Brad Paisley on his Weekend Warrior World Tour.
“I really believe everybody has their own story and their own path of brilliance ahead of them,” Ell explains, hinting at the her own winding journey. “It’s a song of not settling for things, careers, or even emotions that you’re having, just because they happen to you all the time. It’s about knowing you’re meant for something more special than that.”
With her long-awaited album debut, Lindsay Ell has discovered what she was meant for, and who she really is. Her next “project” will be to pass that message on.
Listen to Lindsay Ell perform Criminal for Baylen Leonard here.
