Elli Ingram Reintroduces Herself On Her vintage Feeling Sophomore Album 'Bad Behaviour'

Timeless yet contemporary Elli Ingram grows throughout the different seasons maturing track by track over the course of her sophomore album Bad Behaviour.

The record is deeply personal and universal due to its relatability as Elli engages with the discomfort of experiencing new things for the first time and the joy that goes hand in hand artfully turning these things into expression.

The neo-soul record is composed of 13 tracks and begins when the Brighton singer soulfully croons “I got no plan be” on the first track of the project. On the jazz-infused ‘No Plan B’, produced by Maths Time Joy, Elli announces that she’s fully invested and working towards her blossoming music career but in the moment of clarity uncertainty creeps in.

Transitioning into the Slow and sorrowful, ‘Poor Baby’ its bluesy feel is kept steady by a measured baseline and drum. Elli aims to soothe the pain of a victim of child sex abuse as she reassures them with affectionate endearment.

Sharing her thoughts on the album the Brighton songstress said “I had the concept for this album before I even wrote the first song. It felt like a lot of bad things were happening around me so I started to analyse people's behaviour traits as well as my own. I saw a lot of things change and as a result of that I changed too.”

“The growth I feel from writing these songs and finally putting them out to the world feels colossal. Some change can be amazing, but some changes can be really fucking hard. Some people are good but some people are really fucking bad.”

Longing for the simplicity of her childhood as she reminisces on ‘Growing Pains’ Elli dedicates the time to appreciate past innocence on the piano-based ballad. ‘Growing Pains’ was one of the singles released in the build-up to the album being released.

Following ‘Growing Pains’, the fourth track of the project ‘Gro Slow’ is an interlude that carries on the message of the previous track. Elli smoothly urges her younger self to slow down and appreciate her youth.

In contrast to the slower section of the project the upbeat ‘Trouble’ is composed of jazz elements such as expressive saxophone rifts, dark-toned piano chords and a rhythmic bass that create the perfect space for a restricted Elli to vent as she finds herself caught up in a romance turned cold.

Contemplating the point of love if it is neither fulfilling nor meaningful, Elli collaborates with Mahalia for the only feature of the project ‘Fools Gold’. Their delightful vocals rest against humming synths chords that are intertwined with a groovy base as they urge their partners for affection rather than superficial things.

The minimalistic approach taken by the songstress on ‘Selfish’ emphasises the beauty of Elli’s vocals and her vulnerability. The texture of the arrangement thickens as the piano chords are gradually joined by graceful violin strings that rise to the foreground.

The songstress looks at the multi-facades of love, exploring how her understanding of herself manifests in personal relationships. She sings “Is love always selfish? Or am I selfish in love, maybe not loving myself has torn us apart?”

Another standout track of the project is the more upbeat and warm ‘Loving You (Is Losing Me)’ which combines elements of smooth jazz. Enchantingly Elli tells us a love story that submerges us in the world that she creates.

She expertly recaptures that feeling of pure bliss of being in love as she sings “we waited until the curtain close and then dance all night to the radio.”

Briefly, we are followed by an interlude before the singer lets out the hurt and frustration on the edgy ‘Flowers’ as she responds to unfaithfulness.

One of the other tracks released in 2020 ‘Heavy’ blurs Elli’s soulful vocals with an infectious pop beat. The track is about when the world and your thoughts get too much and being hopeful in the discomfort.

Coming to the end of the project Elli backed with a softly played piano on ‘Strange how good things change’ lets things lay to rest signalling a newfound acceptance and a desire to look forward.

Freeing herself, the Brighton native sees the project with the title track ‘Bad Behaviour’ composed of an expressive jazz arrangement featuring horns, saxophones and a rhythmic baseline.

Bright and daring, chaotic and warm it’s Elli at her best.

Elli’s Bad Behaviour Tour starts on the 25th of October at the iconic Band On The Wall music venue in Manchester, however, she will live performing at the Rough Trade East and Cloud X Festival in a few.

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