Knocknagree’s Elly aiming to ‘strike gold’ with her new single
LONDON-BASED SINGER/SONGWRITER TO RELEASE FIRST OF FOUR NEW SINGLES AFTER PENNING U.S. MANAGEMENT DEAL
THE last time The Corkman caught up with Knocknagree singer/songwriter Elly O’Keeffe, her journey on The Voice UK had come to an end, despite her having captivated judges and audiences alike with her stunning vocals and bubbly personality.
Almost six months later, she is back making headlines with her new single, ‘Gold’, the first of four self-penned records she intends to release over the coming year, having recently signed a deal with US-based management company Arrow Music Agency.
Elly’s first release since her 2017 ‘You’ EP, ‘Gold’ was actually penned seven years ago after she moved to London and recorded two years ago during a session in Nashville, Tennessee.
Elly said that while the track was written following the break-up of a relationship, it is actually a positive song about relationships and the lasting impact they can have on a person’s life.
Although ‘Gold’ will not be officially released until next Tuesday, the soulful balled, tinged with an unmistakeable country backdrop, has proven to be a hugely popular addition to her live sets, prior to the COVID-19 lock-down.
“I think the beauty of it is that it speaks to everyone who has had a relationship break up. People take what they want out of it and apply to their own personal circumstances, which gives the song and lyrics a kind of universal appeal,” said Elly, speaking from her London home.
She said that the intention had been to release the single last February.
However, the contract she signed with ITV, the makers of The Voice UK, had temporarily prohibited her from releasing any of her own original material. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic served to further delay the release of the single.
“Yeah, it has been on the back burner for a while. To be honest, the break after The Voice and the COVID-19 situation has, in some ways, been a blessing for me. While I loved being on The Voice and was really proud of what I achieved on it, I felt I was not really able to express myself through my own music. If I have one regret, it is that I bowed to pressure and did not sing one of my own songs in the last round,” said Elly.
“The past few months have given me the chance to get back to what I do best, writing and recording my own songs. I feel that I am in a really good place at the moment, looking forward to the release of the new single and, hopefully, getting back on stage sometime in the near future.”
She said the deal with Arrow could prove to be the perfect platform for her to break into the lucrative US market, with the company planning festival dates and a possible mini-tour of the States next year along with the release of ‘Gold’ and the following three singles.
“We are also working on my online presence with a new website (www.ellyokeefe.com) and getting my music onto streaming sites like Spotify. Rather than being dictated to by a major label, Arrow have given me the freedom to do what I want at my own pace,” she said.
“While The Voice UK was in many ways tough going, I left it with the feeling that I could do anything and that my career was back in my own hands. So I am in a really good place at the moment and feel very positive about the future. I feel that ‘Gold’ is just the beginning of a really exciting chapter in my career.”