Ella Eyre’s Early Success and a Shocking Request from a Friend
It’s been over a decade since English singer Ella Eyre burst onto the music scene, but the memories of her early days are still vivid, and sometimes, quite startling. The 31-year-old, who landed her first major record deal at just 16, has revealed a peculiar incident that occurred shortly after she received her initial publishing advance. A close friend, apparently astounded by Eyre’s burgeoning success, made a rather audacious request: to fund her breast augmentation surgery.
Eyre, known for her powerful vocals and high-profile collaborations, including the 2013 UK number-one hit “Waiting All Night” with Rudimental, shared this anecdote on the Spent podcast with host Matt Edmondson. She explained that her entry into the music industry was driven by passion, with no real backup plan.
“And when things actually started to go, Well, yeah, it blew my mind, to be honest,” Eyre recounted. “And I got, the thing that came to my mind first was my first publishing deal. You know, it was just the advance. Was just money I’d never even known before.”
It was at this point that the unexpected request came from a trusted friend. “And I remember a friend at the time who I trusted,” Eyre continued, “She asked me to pay for her boob job because it was, like, so impressive that I told her. She continued: ‘And was like, “Wow, can you believe this?” Then she was like, “oh yeah. I was just wondering, like, you know”. And I was just like, “okay, that’s how I knew that I was doing. All right, yeah, that”.'”
Edmondson humorously responded, “That came out of left field,” to which Eyre confirmed, “I said no.”
Adele’s Impact: A Turning Point for a Young Artist
Beyond the surprising financial requests, Eyre also spoke about the profound impact artists like Adele had on her own musical aspirations. She recalled a pivotal moment at the BRIT Awards when she was just 17 years old. Watching Adele perform “Someone Like You” was a life-changing experience that solidified her desire to pursue a career as a pop star.
“I remember I was at the Brit Awards when Adele sang Someone Like You,” Eyre told the Daily Mail in an interview promoting a new wine brand. “I was videoing it on my Nokia phone and watching all of my friends cry around me. I thought to myself, ‘I would love to touch people emotionally in this way with something I’ve created’, and that’s exactly where my passion came from.”
This desire to evoke such strong emotions in others became a core motivator for Eyre. “It was just about being inspired by artists around me who had that effect on me and wanting to provide that to people as well,” she explained.
A Career of Hits and Recognition
Eyre’s career has been marked by a string of popular songs, including “Came Here For Love,” “We Don’t Have To Take Our Clothes Off,” and “Deep Down.” Her distinctive, soulful voice earned her critical acclaim early on, with a Best Newcomer win at the MOBO Awards in 2014, followed by a Best Female Act award in 2023.
Last year, Eyre made a significant comeback with the release of her first full-length album in a decade, titled Everything, In Time. This project followed her 2015 debut album, Feline, and signaled a strong return to the music scene.
Music as Expression and Healing
Looking back at her journey, Eyre reflected on the fundamental role music has played in her life, particularly during her formative years. “As a young person before social media, music was my way of expressing myself,” she shared. “When you are young, you go through your first heartbreaks, you make friends and lose friends. Music was a real anecdote to that and healing, either in a sad way or empowering way.”
Her love for music was deeply rooted in personal connection and the desire to create something meaningful. “I love to dance and sing, even if I wasn’t good at the time, it didn’t matter, it encouraged real human behaviours in me. I loved listening to songs with lyrics that really resonated with me.”
The moment she realised her singing could resonate with others was a powerful validation. “When I realised I could sing and people stopped telling me to shut up, that was something I wanted for myself, to make music that made people feel the way that I felt about the music I loved and to feel not alone.” This sentiment underscores her enduring commitment to connecting with her audience through her art.
