25 Records of Christmas, Day 3: Ellie Goulding

Time can change people. So can experience. When it comes to someone like Ellie Goulding, both time and experience seem to have been things that have given her quite a handle on what she's doing now. Her first release, Lights, proved her to be a fantastic artist on recording, with stellar production and innovative songwriting. But live, she couldn't deliver. So what happened to turn her into such an icon in current dance music scene?
First off, it appears Goulding not only had voice lessons, but was also able to work with a band and get to know other people. Rather than the form of her first album, where it was just her making music for herself, her second album allowed her to work closely with producers  on it. Through listening to both Lights and Halcyon, you can tell the cohesive change from the two. Just go watch the full concert from her show at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, just to show you how much of an energetic live show this girl has. Even in the concert footage, Goulding explains how many of the songs on Halcyon transfer better live than the songs from Lights.

Ellie Goulding, originally from Herefordshire, England, UK.

Halcyon has so much feeling, so much poise, that you can't help but sing along with Goulding when she nearly screams her words in some songs. The female entertainer's former boyfriend, Sonny Moore (also known as Skrillex), is felt in many of the tracks on Halcyon, infusing dubstep and deep electronic into some of the heavier dance tracks, like "Figure 8" and "Hanging On". But this is by no means a dubstep record. Goulding keeps her signature hand of songwriting and high-pitched melodies on every single track.

Some songs even take on a theatrical feel to them, like "Explosions", which showcases Goulding's layered vocals underneath the simplistic lyrical content, creating a solid moment for her fans to experience, both on the recording and live. If this is the type of experience Goulding wants to create for herself and audiences, she's doing a fantastic job. Her voice trembles on the final track, "Dead In The Water", proving that these songs are real and passionately driven from a musician who wants to change her perception, to that of a force to be reckoned with.

*Sorry this post is a tad late for Day 3. Got behind on some work. Hope you enjoy.*