Local Sounds: It’s so good to chat with you, Ella. We’ve been spinning the UK Sessions EP and it has a really specific feeling. It’s a bit raw, a bit "real world." What was actually going through your head when you were putting these themes together?
Ella Fence: Honestly? It’s that weird moment where you look around and go, "Oh wait... I’m the adult here now." [Laughs]. All the tracks are about that realisation. They’re about how harsh and cruel reality can feel sometimes. Each song is basically me asking questions about where I belong, who I am, and the stories I’ve been telling myself for years. It’s me realising that if I’m the adult now and I still have no idea what I’m doing, maybe I can just let go and be at ease with that.
Local Sounds: That "imposter syndrome" hits hard! Speaking of the sound, you teamed up with Dan Swift again for this. You guys have history, right? How did being in Brighton change the vibe of these songs compared to the originals?
Ella Fence: Yeah, Dan and I actually started working together over ten years ago on my first EP, Wanderlust. That project was so massive for me, not just because of the streams, but because it literally took me to the other side of the world and connected me with people I never would’ve met otherwise.
For the UK Sessions, it was so cool to see Dan take tracks I usually play with my five-piece band and totally flip them through an alt-Brit-pop lens. If you listen to "Couple Kids" from my upcoming Records with Friends project and then hear the UK Sessions version, they have such different characters that the meaning almost changes. I love that listeners get to pick which version they vibe with more.
Local Sounds: It’s like seeing two different sides of the same personality. Now, bringing it back home, the Gold Coast scene is having a huge moment lately. How has the local community influenced the way you work?
Ella Fence: I’ve been getting way more plugged into the Coast scene recently and it’s incredible. You’ve got places like Mo’s Desert Clubhouse and the mosh pits, and then the Gold Coast Music Awards, it just feels like a real community. There are so many people here who genuinely get out there and support each other. That acceptance really lets you lean into your own style without worrying about fitting a specific mould.
Local Sounds: Every artist has their own "secret sauce" when it comes to writing. How did these songs start out before they got the Dan Swift makeover?
Ella Fence: They all started as poems in my notebook, actually. But musically, they grew up differently. "Couple Kids" and "Welcome to the Real World" started on the keys, while "Short Term Parking" was something we built in the studio with my guitarist, Luke McDonald, and then developed with my drummer, Harry Bell.
Then Dan comes in and adds his own charisma and flair. That’s why I love collaborating with people from different places, they draw from such different inspirations than you do. It keeps the sound fresh.
Local Sounds: We’re always looking for what’s next on the horizon. What have you got coming up? Any more travel in the works?
Ella Fence: Definitely. I’m actually heading Overseas in April and May! I’m going with Ayla from the Sunshine Coast, she’s a collaborator and her own project is amazing. Plus, I’ve got a massive stack of music in the pipeline ready to go. This EP is really just the beginning of what’s coming.
Local Sounds: We can't wait to get our hands on Ella's EP. In the meantime you can stream Couple Kids (UK Sessions) here;
https://app.localsounds.com.au/song/ella-fence/couple-kids-uk-sessions