Ella Eyre | |
|---|---|
 Eyre in 2016 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Ella McMahon (1994-04-01)1 April 1994 (age 31) Westminster,London, England |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Labels |
|
| Website | ellaeyreiam |
Ella Norris McMahon (born 1 April 1994), known professionally asElla Eyre, is an English singer and songwriter. She is known for her collaborations withRudimental on their UK number-one single "Waiting All Night" (2013), which won theBrit Award for British Single of the Year, withDJ Fresh on his single "Gravity" (2015) and withSigala on his singles "Came Here for Love" (2017) and "Just Got Paid" (2018). Her debut studio album,Feline, was released in 2015. It was followed up by her second album,Everything, in Time, in 2025. Eyre's musical influences includeLauryn Hill,Etta James,Basement Jaxx andHans Zimmer.
Ella Norris McMahon was born on 1 April 1994 inWestminster,London and raised inEaling,London.[1] Her father wasJamaican and her mother isMaltese. Her father was a chef who lived in Jamaica and was unable to move to the UK with the rest of his family due to limited economics[2] and her mother, who raised Eyre in London, is a cake designer.[3][4] Eyre trained as a competitiveswimmer before she began singing professionally.[3]
Eyre was educated atMillfield School, apublic school inSomerset. Refuting the idea that she came from a privileged background, she observed that her mother could not have afforded the fees, and she went there on a "massive swimming scholarship".[2] She later attended theBRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology, where she studied musical theatre.[5][6] Discovered by her management through a vocal coach in 2011, she juggled school with songwriting. She signed to the publisherWarner Chappell Music in July 2012 and a record deal withVirgin EMI followed shortly after, aged 16.[7]
In December 2012, Eyre featured onBastille's cover and mash up ofTLC's "No Scrubs" andthe xx's "Angels". Titled "No Angels", the song featured on the band's 2012mixtape,Other People's Heartache, Pt. 2. In April 2013, she featured on drum and bass bandRudimental's single "Waiting All Night", which peaked at number one on theUK Singles Chart, becoming Eyre's first chart entry.[8] In August 2013, she appeared alongside rapperWiz Khalifa on the track "Think About It" from producerNaughty Boy's 2013 albumHotel Cabana. The song was released as the fourth single from the album in November 2013. Eyre also features on rapperTinie Tempah's albumDemonstration on the track "Someday (Place in the Sun)", which entered the UK Singles Chart at number 87.[9]
Eyre's firstextended play (EP),Deeper, was released in December 2013, and the title track reached number 72.[10][11] She was the runner-up for the 2014BRIT Critics' Choice Award and came second on the BBCSound of 2014 shortlist.[12] "Waiting All Night" also won theBrit Award for British Single of the Year that year.[13] Eyre's next three solo singles—"If I Go", "Comeback" (both 2014) and "Together" (2015)—reached the top twenty on theUK Singles Chart.[14] She co-wrote the UK number one single "Changing" for drum and bass duoSigma featuring British recording artistPaloma Faith, which was released in the United Kingdom in September 2014. The following month, Eyre won Best Newcomer at theMOBO Awards 2014.[15]
Eyre featured on theDJ Fresh single "Gravity", released in February 2015. In May 2015, a song Eyre co-wrote, "Black Smoke", was used byAnn Sophie, theGerman participant of theEurovision Song Contest 2015.[16] Also during mid 2015, Eyre supportedOlly Murs on his 2015 arena tour and was announced as the "face" of the advertising campaign for anEmporio Armani Diamonds fragrance.[17][18] Her debut album,Feline, was released in August 2015 (following the single "Good Times") and featured contributions fromWayne Hector,Ilya, Paul O'Duffy andJarrad Rogers.[19][20] In September, Eyre released a cover of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" in association withEngland Rugby, to coincide with the2015 Rugby World Cup.[21] In November, Eyre won Best Female at theMOBO Awards 2015.[22] She then embarked on a UK tour.[23]
On 18 February 2017, Eyre announced her comeback concert atKOKO, London on 4 April 2017.[24] At the comeback concert at KOKO, Eyre performed four new songs: "LOV(E)", "Drink with Your Name on It", "I Swear" and "Ego". On 29 May 2017, Eyre andSigala announced a new collaborative single, "Came Here for Love", released on 9 June 2017. Two months later, she released "Ego" featuringTy Dolla $ign. Eyre then supportedLittle Mix on theirSummer Shout Out Tour and supportedthe Script on their Freedom Child Tour in early 2018.[25]
In February 2018, Eyre was confirmed for the 2018Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off.[26] On 5 March 2018, Eyre announced her new single "Answerphone" withBanx & Ranx andYxng Bane, which peaked at number 5 on the UK Singles Chart. On 7 September 2018, Eyre released another collaboration with Sigala: "Just Got Paid" featuringMeghan Trainor andFrench Montana. It peaked at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart.[27]
In July 2019, Eyre announced she had signed toIsland Records.[28] She subsequently released the single "Mama" featuring Banx & Ranx andKiana Ledé.[29] In January 2020, Eyre released the single "New Me", with a UK tour in November and December that same year.[30][31] Following the release of "New Me", Eyre released various singles, before dropping her third EP,Quarter Life Crisis, in August 2020.[32]
During theCOVID-19 lockdowns, Eyre underwent a vocal surgery that meant she had to relearn how to speak. After she "emerged with a clearer sense of self", she parted with Island Records, took ownership of hermasters and scrapped all of her unreleased music.[33] She previously had an early iteration of her second studio album but explained that it did not feel right, so rebegan work on it.[33] In November 2023, Eyre released "Head in the Ground", her firstindependent release.[34] After various single releases, she released her second album,Everything, in Time, on 21 November 2025.[35]
In February 2017, Eyre and Lewi Morgan, from the Britishpop rock bandRixton, ended their two-year relationship.[36] In April 2017, Eyre announced the death of her father.[37] Eyre revealed she suffered from a kidney infection and severe shellfish allergy during the making of her "New Me" music video, which resulted in facial swelling and secretion.[38]
Headlining:
Supporting:
| Year | Organisation | Category | Nominated work(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | MTV | Brand New for 2014 | Herself | Nominated | [39] |
| BRIT Awards | Critics' Choice | Herself | Nominated | [40] | |
| Single of the Year | "Waiting All Night" | Won | [41] | ||
| BBC | Sound of 2014 | Herself | Second | [42] | |
| MOBO Awards | Best Newcomer | Herself | Won | ||
| 2015 | MOBO Awards | Best Female | Herself | Won | |
| 2020 | Popjustice £20 Music Prize | Best British Pop Single | "New Me" | Nominated | [43] |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
