MEDIA
Award winning songwriter & performer Ella Fence is a power-femme electro pop artist who has toured and performed in USA, Berlin, England (including Great Escape Festival, Alternative Escape), Canada (Canadian Music Week), and Norway, as well nationally across Australia.
2018 has been a huge year for Ella Fence – working hard on her first album, growing her live show and band as well as a string of exciting live shows including performing at Commonwealth Games Festival 2018 supporting Kate Miller-Heidke and Regurgitator (see here for live footage).
RECENT SUPPORTS:
Kate Miller-Heidke (at Commonwealth Games Festival 2018), Regurgitator (at Commonwealth Games Festival 2018), Stonefield, Grinspoon’s Phil Jamieson (in June, 2018), Montaigne, The Peep Tempel, Boo Seeka, Jack River, Ken Stringfellow, Alex Lloyd and Caiti Baker.
LATEST COLLABORATIONS:
Ella’s latest single release, ‘Hollow Drum’, from her soon to be released EP, was received with accolades, scoring airplay on commercial radio station Hit105 and Triple J, and was also added to rotation on Triple J Unearthed and 4ZZZ.
This EP is a collaboration with APRA award winning songwriter/ producer and multi-instrumentalist The Audacious Vinnie LaDuce (M.T. Warning, Feeding Fauna, Ash Grunwald, The Winnie Coopers). Together, they created a unique mix of bold synthesisers, programmed beats and powerhouse vocals; a passionate, raw take on Ella’s experiences as a strong uncompromising artist.
Ella's 2017 release 'Dancer' (a collaboration with Vinnie LaDuce) is being used in sell out season of Single Asian Female at Belvoir Street Theatre in Sydney February/ March 2018 (a La Boite Theatre Company production).
Ella has also started collaborating with Sunshine Coast’s Christian Patey, their first release together ‘Aeroplane Mode’, was added to rotation on 4ZZZ.
INTERNATIONAL:
Ella Fence's latest EP release follows on from her acclaimed debut EP ‘Wanderlust’, recorded at the renowned Brighton Electric Studios (UK), home to the likes of artists such as The Cure and Royal Blood, with producer Dan Swift (Snow Patrol, Passenger). The B-side track of this EP was then recorded with Ken Stringfellow (REM, The Posies) at his studio in Paris.
The Wanderlust EP also spiked interest in the Radio world, making the top 20 on New York’s Breakthru Radio and top 10 on 4ZZZ Brisbane. It was also added to several community, college and independent radio stations in the USA and rotation on multiple radio stations across Australia – including Triple J Unearthed, 2SER, ABC Gold Coast, 4ZZZ Brisbane, SYN Melbourne and was also spun on Triple J (listened to worldwide).
With flavours of European and British influence, her debut EP Wanderlust transcends cultural parameters. Ella has since returned to the UK to produce further music with Dan Swift at Brighton Electric. While in the UK, Ella also worked with with Grammy Award Winner Terry Britten (who has written with Tina Turner, Cliff Richard Olivia Newton-John and Michael Jackson), Nick Coler (who has written with Girls Aloud, Sugababes and Gabriella Cilmi), David Lowe (TV and Radio composer for BBC) and double Ivor Novello Winner Phil Pickett (of Boy George and the Culture Club fame).
Overseas Ella Fence has performed a plethora of shows that saw her reaching even new heights in USA, Germany (Berlin), France, England and Canada; hitting up some impressive festival stages including The Great Escape Festival and Canadian Music Week, wowing both fans and critics alike.
ACTING + STAGE:
Ella has the edge to offer an outstanding live show, having performed a key role in a major production of Jesus Christ Superstar at ‘The Arts Centre Gold Coast’. She was then cast as the lead character, ‘Snow White’ in a dark-twisted version of the story, a collaboration between Opera Queensland, La Boite Theatre Company and Brisbane Festival (2016) and in 2017, cast in Bleached Arts’ ‘Hotelling’, as the primary vocalist in the show.
MOTEL TOUR:
In 2017, Ella revealed the new tracks from this latest collaboration during her Australia wide Motel Tour, where fans had the exclusive opportunity to hear unreleased tracks from the EP. The Motel Tour was like no other, with the new live show performed fully amplified to fans inside Motel rooms in secret locations. During these shows, Ella and her band of multi-instrumentalists played everything from guitars, to synthesizers, to samples, to vocals, with Ella at the forefront.
The band took over the rooms, leaning the beds against the walls of the room, moving out the furniture; turning the rooms from an ordinary Motel room, into a live music venue - with champagne, a stage, lighting and a dance floor.
Ella's artistic intention behind the Motel Tour, was to offer her fans a very unique experience that gave insight into the life of a travelling artist – a life which can often be very random and transient, but also lots of fun, inspiring and full of surprises.
(Click here for the Motel Tour Episodes 1, 2 and 3.)
MEDIA QUOTES:
"It's a quirky, lush and cinematic mix of sounds in here" - Triple J's Declan Byrne on single Call Girl
"Call Girl by Ella Fence brings you that perfect blend of pop with commercial dance. The vocals are perfection! Love!" - Radio Metro's Vikki Martin-Smith on single Call Girl
★★★★ - "Really sick track. Ella's voice in amazing there's no doubt in that. Really love the drumming and the darkness of the bvs in this pop tune. Love it!" - Nkechi Anele, Triple J on single Hollow Drum
★★★½ "Nice stuff from Ella, once again. This one alternates between this brooding rumble and some more epic dark-pop moments, all anchored by Ella's smokey voice" - Dave Ruby Howe, Triple J.
"Ella has a fucking sensational voice. Supporting her now is like buying bitcoin when it cost $200” - Hit 105
★★★½ "Not sure what's more hypnotic, your vocals or those drums! Super alluring” Bridget Hustwaite, Triple J on single Hollow Drum.
★★★★ – “Ahh I can't get enough of this! Smooth, bad-ass electro pop that'll have you floating in a contemplative state of mind” – Claire Mooney, Triple J, on single Cocaine
★★★★ - "That simple, hypnotic chorus is the ticket" - Declan Byrne, Triple J, on lead single Dancer
★★★½ - "It's so vividly detailed" - Max Quinn, Triple J, on lead single Dancer
★★★½ - "Love the concept behind this one - it builds but never feels overdone" - Tommy Faith, Triple J on Aeroplane Mode, a collaboration with Christian Patey
★★★½ - "This puts you right in a zone. It's tidy and subtle. The two of you together are hypnotic" - Claire Mooney, Triple J on Aeroplane Mode, a collaboration with Christian Patey
★★★½ - "A really interesting track filled with moments of beauty. Really interesting collab can't wait to hear more" - Nkechi Anele, Triple J on Aeroplane Mode, a collaboration with Christian Patey
“Nothing is tougher than being exposed, and her confidence in this state lends Fence an amazing magnetism” – Hhhhappy Magazine
“Like a lone conductor standing in front of a tsunami of sound, Ella Fence seems to bend the tides of strings and strums to do her sonic bidding” - Alex Dyson, Triple J, on leading single from the Wanderlust EP, Unknown Water.
“This'll get described as ‘cinematic’ and ‘orchestral’ and all those adjectives fit, but there's something BIG about this song, as though Ella's singing it from atop a mountain, which makes it all the more impressive” – Triple J’s Dom Alessio, of track The Dust.
"Bold and beautiful song, self assured and really well executed" - Zan Rowe, Triple J on Unknown Water.
"This is an impressive introduction from Ella Fence. It's always nice to hear a new artist that's really detail-driven; you can hear it in the mix but also in how Ella Fence delivers each line and doesn't sell you to hard on her voice because you'll be buying it anyway" - Dave Ruby Howe, Triple J Unearthed, on Unknown Water
Dom Alessio from Triple J described Unknown Water as "dark" and "romantic"
"Absolutely gorgeous voice hey she's got this real throw back kind of sound going back to Nancy Sinatra says and that kind of vibe, absolutely loving it" - Sarah Howells, Triple J
"Such a unique sound. eerie, beautiful & powerful. Love your voice." - Triple J's Veronica Milsom, reviewing track Cigarettes and Red Wine
Live music reviews:
"Your music is hypnotising" - Soho Radio, London UK
"Ella Fence unleashes her extraordinary vocal presence, a beguiling mix of freak folk, alt country and old time chanteuse” - Blank Gold Coast Magazine
"I was warned about your voice and the power in it, it has that phrase people call 'cut through' you can't help but pay attention when you start singing" - ABC Radio (Hobart)
"Ella Fence's raw emotion pours beautifully into her music, creating a stunning mix of vulnerability and power" - Editor, Aphra Magazine
"Deep and mesmerising Ella Fence's voice swoops and soars moving towards the truly exceptional, a young virtuoso who is terrifically talented, Ella Fence will blow your mind, she is extremely proficient for one so young and definitely someone to watch out for" - Edge Radio (Hobart).
"Fence's voice compares favourably to the great Laura Marling, with a professional musical training and a thorough knowledge of the big names in pop music" - 4ZZZ Radio (Brisbane).
“Ella Fence's vocals entrance you as you hear them and together with the music there is no way she isn't going to go onto bigger and better things in the future.” - Edge Radio
"Ella Fence's music is like chicken soup for the soul. Invigorating, beautiful and one of a kind performer" - Rabbit Radio
"With its classic Hollywood black and white cinematography, the Unknown Water video entrances you in its timeless beauty" - Happy Music Blog, on Debut film clip Unknown Water.
Professional endorsements:
"A singer/songwriter to whom audiences instantly respond” – Lindy Hume, Artistic Director Opera Queensland" - Lindy Hume, Artistic Director Opera Queensland.
"Ella Fence possesses the rare ability to control every atom in a room, her voice dissolving the hearts of all who hear and her delivery places an entire audience in the palm of her hand" - Hayden Tee (Les Miserables)
"I had Ella come up onstage and plug in her Martin and do a song of hers... with her wild, feral swooping voice. Then I politely borrowed her acoustic and we did “Doesn’t It Remind You of Something”, and she was, of course, brilliant" - Ken Stringfellow (REM, The Posies)
Awards
2018 Longlist for UK's UMA Awards for Best International Music Video
2018 Finalist - Song of the Year for Cocaine Gold Coast Music Awards
2018 Finalist - Artist of the Year at Gold Coast Music Awards
2017 Billy Thorpe Scholarship Finalist
2017 Finalist – Artist of the Year at Gold Coast Music Awards
2016 Winner - Song of The Year for Unknown Water at Gold Coast Music Awards
2016 Winner Video of the Year for Unknown Water (alongside Double Deuce) at Gold Coast Music Awards
2016 Finalist - Artist of the Year and Emerging Artist of the Year at Gold Coast Music Awards
2016 Partial Funding from City of Gold Coast for Power Up Your Arts Mentorship Grant
2016 Bluesfest Busking Finalist
2015 Finalist for Grant McLennan Fellowship
2015 International Songwriting Competition Semifinalist for Unknown Water
2015 Australian Music Week Incentive Prize Winner
2018 has been a huge year for Ella Fence – working hard on her first album, growing her live show and band as well as a string of exciting live shows including performing at Commonwealth Games Festival 2018 supporting Kate Miller-Heidke and Regurgitator (see here for live footage).
RECENT SUPPORTS:
Kate Miller-Heidke (at Commonwealth Games Festival 2018), Regurgitator (at Commonwealth Games Festival 2018), Stonefield, Grinspoon’s Phil Jamieson (in June, 2018), Montaigne, The Peep Tempel, Boo Seeka, Jack River, Ken Stringfellow, Alex Lloyd and Caiti Baker.
LATEST COLLABORATIONS:
Ella’s latest single release, ‘Hollow Drum’, from her soon to be released EP, was received with accolades, scoring airplay on commercial radio station Hit105 and Triple J, and was also added to rotation on Triple J Unearthed and 4ZZZ.
This EP is a collaboration with APRA award winning songwriter/ producer and multi-instrumentalist The Audacious Vinnie LaDuce (M.T. Warning, Feeding Fauna, Ash Grunwald, The Winnie Coopers). Together, they created a unique mix of bold synthesisers, programmed beats and powerhouse vocals; a passionate, raw take on Ella’s experiences as a strong uncompromising artist.
Ella's 2017 release 'Dancer' (a collaboration with Vinnie LaDuce) is being used in sell out season of Single Asian Female at Belvoir Street Theatre in Sydney February/ March 2018 (a La Boite Theatre Company production).
Ella has also started collaborating with Sunshine Coast’s Christian Patey, their first release together ‘Aeroplane Mode’, was added to rotation on 4ZZZ.
INTERNATIONAL:
Ella Fence's latest EP release follows on from her acclaimed debut EP ‘Wanderlust’, recorded at the renowned Brighton Electric Studios (UK), home to the likes of artists such as The Cure and Royal Blood, with producer Dan Swift (Snow Patrol, Passenger). The B-side track of this EP was then recorded with Ken Stringfellow (REM, The Posies) at his studio in Paris.
The Wanderlust EP also spiked interest in the Radio world, making the top 20 on New York’s Breakthru Radio and top 10 on 4ZZZ Brisbane. It was also added to several community, college and independent radio stations in the USA and rotation on multiple radio stations across Australia – including Triple J Unearthed, 2SER, ABC Gold Coast, 4ZZZ Brisbane, SYN Melbourne and was also spun on Triple J (listened to worldwide).
With flavours of European and British influence, her debut EP Wanderlust transcends cultural parameters. Ella has since returned to the UK to produce further music with Dan Swift at Brighton Electric. While in the UK, Ella also worked with with Grammy Award Winner Terry Britten (who has written with Tina Turner, Cliff Richard Olivia Newton-John and Michael Jackson), Nick Coler (who has written with Girls Aloud, Sugababes and Gabriella Cilmi), David Lowe (TV and Radio composer for BBC) and double Ivor Novello Winner Phil Pickett (of Boy George and the Culture Club fame).
Overseas Ella Fence has performed a plethora of shows that saw her reaching even new heights in USA, Germany (Berlin), France, England and Canada; hitting up some impressive festival stages including The Great Escape Festival and Canadian Music Week, wowing both fans and critics alike.
ACTING + STAGE:
Ella has the edge to offer an outstanding live show, having performed a key role in a major production of Jesus Christ Superstar at ‘The Arts Centre Gold Coast’. She was then cast as the lead character, ‘Snow White’ in a dark-twisted version of the story, a collaboration between Opera Queensland, La Boite Theatre Company and Brisbane Festival (2016) and in 2017, cast in Bleached Arts’ ‘Hotelling’, as the primary vocalist in the show.
MOTEL TOUR:
In 2017, Ella revealed the new tracks from this latest collaboration during her Australia wide Motel Tour, where fans had the exclusive opportunity to hear unreleased tracks from the EP. The Motel Tour was like no other, with the new live show performed fully amplified to fans inside Motel rooms in secret locations. During these shows, Ella and her band of multi-instrumentalists played everything from guitars, to synthesizers, to samples, to vocals, with Ella at the forefront.
The band took over the rooms, leaning the beds against the walls of the room, moving out the furniture; turning the rooms from an ordinary Motel room, into a live music venue - with champagne, a stage, lighting and a dance floor.
Ella's artistic intention behind the Motel Tour, was to offer her fans a very unique experience that gave insight into the life of a travelling artist – a life which can often be very random and transient, but also lots of fun, inspiring and full of surprises.
(Click here for the Motel Tour Episodes 1, 2 and 3.)
MEDIA QUOTES:
"It's a quirky, lush and cinematic mix of sounds in here" - Triple J's Declan Byrne on single Call Girl
"Call Girl by Ella Fence brings you that perfect blend of pop with commercial dance. The vocals are perfection! Love!" - Radio Metro's Vikki Martin-Smith on single Call Girl
★★★★ - "Really sick track. Ella's voice in amazing there's no doubt in that. Really love the drumming and the darkness of the bvs in this pop tune. Love it!" - Nkechi Anele, Triple J on single Hollow Drum
★★★½ "Nice stuff from Ella, once again. This one alternates between this brooding rumble and some more epic dark-pop moments, all anchored by Ella's smokey voice" - Dave Ruby Howe, Triple J.
"Ella has a fucking sensational voice. Supporting her now is like buying bitcoin when it cost $200” - Hit 105
★★★½ "Not sure what's more hypnotic, your vocals or those drums! Super alluring” Bridget Hustwaite, Triple J on single Hollow Drum.
★★★★ – “Ahh I can't get enough of this! Smooth, bad-ass electro pop that'll have you floating in a contemplative state of mind” – Claire Mooney, Triple J, on single Cocaine
★★★★ - "That simple, hypnotic chorus is the ticket" - Declan Byrne, Triple J, on lead single Dancer
★★★½ - "It's so vividly detailed" - Max Quinn, Triple J, on lead single Dancer
★★★½ - "Love the concept behind this one - it builds but never feels overdone" - Tommy Faith, Triple J on Aeroplane Mode, a collaboration with Christian Patey
★★★½ - "This puts you right in a zone. It's tidy and subtle. The two of you together are hypnotic" - Claire Mooney, Triple J on Aeroplane Mode, a collaboration with Christian Patey
★★★½ - "A really interesting track filled with moments of beauty. Really interesting collab can't wait to hear more" - Nkechi Anele, Triple J on Aeroplane Mode, a collaboration with Christian Patey
“Nothing is tougher than being exposed, and her confidence in this state lends Fence an amazing magnetism” – Hhhhappy Magazine
“Like a lone conductor standing in front of a tsunami of sound, Ella Fence seems to bend the tides of strings and strums to do her sonic bidding” - Alex Dyson, Triple J, on leading single from the Wanderlust EP, Unknown Water.
“This'll get described as ‘cinematic’ and ‘orchestral’ and all those adjectives fit, but there's something BIG about this song, as though Ella's singing it from atop a mountain, which makes it all the more impressive” – Triple J’s Dom Alessio, of track The Dust.
"Bold and beautiful song, self assured and really well executed" - Zan Rowe, Triple J on Unknown Water.
"This is an impressive introduction from Ella Fence. It's always nice to hear a new artist that's really detail-driven; you can hear it in the mix but also in how Ella Fence delivers each line and doesn't sell you to hard on her voice because you'll be buying it anyway" - Dave Ruby Howe, Triple J Unearthed, on Unknown Water
Dom Alessio from Triple J described Unknown Water as "dark" and "romantic"
"Absolutely gorgeous voice hey she's got this real throw back kind of sound going back to Nancy Sinatra says and that kind of vibe, absolutely loving it" - Sarah Howells, Triple J
"Such a unique sound. eerie, beautiful & powerful. Love your voice." - Triple J's Veronica Milsom, reviewing track Cigarettes and Red Wine
Live music reviews:
"Your music is hypnotising" - Soho Radio, London UK
"Ella Fence unleashes her extraordinary vocal presence, a beguiling mix of freak folk, alt country and old time chanteuse” - Blank Gold Coast Magazine
"I was warned about your voice and the power in it, it has that phrase people call 'cut through' you can't help but pay attention when you start singing" - ABC Radio (Hobart)
"Ella Fence's raw emotion pours beautifully into her music, creating a stunning mix of vulnerability and power" - Editor, Aphra Magazine
"Deep and mesmerising Ella Fence's voice swoops and soars moving towards the truly exceptional, a young virtuoso who is terrifically talented, Ella Fence will blow your mind, she is extremely proficient for one so young and definitely someone to watch out for" - Edge Radio (Hobart).
"Fence's voice compares favourably to the great Laura Marling, with a professional musical training and a thorough knowledge of the big names in pop music" - 4ZZZ Radio (Brisbane).
“Ella Fence's vocals entrance you as you hear them and together with the music there is no way she isn't going to go onto bigger and better things in the future.” - Edge Radio
"Ella Fence's music is like chicken soup for the soul. Invigorating, beautiful and one of a kind performer" - Rabbit Radio
"With its classic Hollywood black and white cinematography, the Unknown Water video entrances you in its timeless beauty" - Happy Music Blog, on Debut film clip Unknown Water.
Professional endorsements:
"A singer/songwriter to whom audiences instantly respond” – Lindy Hume, Artistic Director Opera Queensland" - Lindy Hume, Artistic Director Opera Queensland.
"Ella Fence possesses the rare ability to control every atom in a room, her voice dissolving the hearts of all who hear and her delivery places an entire audience in the palm of her hand" - Hayden Tee (Les Miserables)
"I had Ella come up onstage and plug in her Martin and do a song of hers... with her wild, feral swooping voice. Then I politely borrowed her acoustic and we did “Doesn’t It Remind You of Something”, and she was, of course, brilliant" - Ken Stringfellow (REM, The Posies)
Awards
2018 Longlist for UK's UMA Awards for Best International Music Video
2018 Finalist - Song of the Year for Cocaine Gold Coast Music Awards
2018 Finalist - Artist of the Year at Gold Coast Music Awards
2017 Billy Thorpe Scholarship Finalist
2017 Finalist – Artist of the Year at Gold Coast Music Awards
2016 Winner - Song of The Year for Unknown Water at Gold Coast Music Awards
2016 Winner Video of the Year for Unknown Water (alongside Double Deuce) at Gold Coast Music Awards
2016 Finalist - Artist of the Year and Emerging Artist of the Year at Gold Coast Music Awards
2016 Partial Funding from City of Gold Coast for Power Up Your Arts Mentorship Grant
2016 Bluesfest Busking Finalist
2015 Finalist for Grant McLennan Fellowship
2015 International Songwriting Competition Semifinalist for Unknown Water
2015 Australian Music Week Incentive Prize Winner