LAST year former Varndean College pupil Elli Ingram went from posting a cover of Kendrick Lamar’s Poetic Justice online to being signed to Island Records, releasing her debut EP and touring the UK with Chase And Status.

If that weren’t enough, the 20-year-old closed the year by being nominated for the best newcomer prize at the MOBO Awards – alongside the likes of Sam Smith, Daley and X Factor runner-up Jahmene Douglas.

As she prepares to release When It Was Dark – her first single on Island – and play a homecoming gig at Bermuda Triangle on Brighton’s seafront, Ingram talks to The Guide about her first musical experiences, making difficult decisions and quaffing champagne with music royalty.

“Music has always been a big part of my life. My dad was a singer-songwriter, and plays in a band. My mum loves music, and I have always loved singing. When I was nine or ten I wanted to go on Stars In Their Eyes as Anastacia.

“I wasn’t really hungry to get into music until I went to Varndean College and studied a music B-tec. I didn’t get the grades to study textiles, which is what I wanted to do. At Varndean I was in a girl band for a year which was amazing. We were called The Pieces because we were all a bit mis-matched – we had a girl who was an indie-rock chick, there was me and my friend Jo who was really pretty.

“Standing on stage, seeing people’s reactions and how it made them feel – there was nothing else in the world that made me feel like that. I went on to City College to do an extended course for two years which was very different. I was the only girl for the first year, everyone else was into heavy rock. We had to form a band, and with me being a singer I had to be in a band with four guys. I made some really good friends there. It made me more confident to experiment with different sounds and be a bit more free and creative.

“I remember the first time I showed my dad a song I had written on the piano, just to see his reaction. He was so proud of me. I felt I could write about how I feel and people could relate to it.

“Songwriting is something I never imagined I could do. I’m so closed with my own feelings – when I first started working with a couple of guys it took me so long to show them what I had written. I was petrified they would laugh or judge me.

“It’s amazing how beneficial those YouTube videos were. I never really got it before – how many people could see it and spread it. Those videos got me to where I am today. Chase And Status saw Poetic Justice and started asking about me.

“I started working with Chase And Status before Island came along. When I heard about Island it was like a dream come true – they were always the dream label, they had such an amazing roster of people. I had to decide whether to go with [Chase And Status's label] MTA who put out my Sober EP or Island. It was hard to say goodbye to MTA. It was so amazing to get a chance to work with Chase And Status.

“When I heard about the MOBOs it was like a shock to the system. I didn’t know where it had come from. When I was in my hotel room getting my hair and make-up done and getting dressed up by these people I had to think, is this really happening? Stepping out of a flashy car on to a red carpet, with all this rain, it was so surreal. I couldn’t really believe where I was. Everyone had sunglasses on and was popping champagne like it was nothing. It felt a bit uncomfortable – like a different world. I was chucking drinks back with my friend having an amazing time.

“I’m working on another EP – but I’m trying not to call it an EP. It feels like more than that. There are only four or five tracks on it – but every track is very important. It’s more like a mini-album.

“Hometown shows are the scariest. When I was performing my Sober shows I was looking out at 200 friends and family in my hometown – it was way scarier than doing a show at Glastonbury with Chase And Status in front of thousands of people. Brighton has always been very supportive. It’s a big place, but it’s small – everyone knows everyone which can get a bit annoying, but it’s lovely to have that support.”

Find out more:

  • Elli Ingram plays Bermuda Triangle, in King’s Road Arches, Brighton, on Tuesday, February 11. Doors at 7.30pm, tickets £6. Visit www.bermudatriangleclub.co.uk
  • The Sober EP is available now from Elli’s website. Her first Island collection, featuring the song When It Was Dark, is released on Monday, March 17.
  • Visit www.elliingram.com or www.facebook.com/ElliIngramMusic