Musical Motivation: Lindsay Ell

Three years since her debut major label album, chart topping musician, vocalist and songwriter Lindsay Ell’s highly-anticipated sophomore album heart theory has arrived and raised the bar. American Songwriter, who hails heart theory a “career-altering, masterpiece of an album," and international arena size success is beckoning. To find out more about the potentially career changing release, we caught up with Lindsay to learn what songs make her...



Smile

“Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina & The Waves is the first song that come mind. Do songs get any happier than this?

Contemplate

“Belief” by John Mayer. Sometimes his writing is so multi-layered and not until you’ve really lived with this song do you realize what he’s actually trying to say. That song talks so much about life and how we live it and when believing in certain things causes us to live differently.

Cry

I want to say “I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt, but I don’t want to repeat my answer, so I’ll say “Heart of the Matter” by Don Henley. The opening
lyric is “I got the call today, I didn't want to hear, but I knew that it would come.”

Is there anything more honest and sad than that!?!

Laugh

“Fuck You” by CeeLo Green. It’s such a clever song about revenge and catchy as hell. Who wouldn’t laugh at that!

Want to work out

The Rocky Theme song! The actual title is “Gonna Fly Now.” There is something so visceral about my reaction to that song. I feel like it makes everyone feel like a
champion.

Reminisce

“Yesterday” by the Beatles. Its lyrics are honest and even the music feels like a memory or a dream. The song just pulls me back.

Relax

“Song For You” was written by Leon Russell and has been recorded by so many people, but my favorite version is Donny Hathaway. It makes me want to chill.

Feel Determined

Shameless self-promotion – but my song “make you” is about my own journey in learning that my past does not define me. I have had to overcome so much to get
where I am today that putting my story into song will be a constant reminder of my determination.

Dance

“24K Magic” by Bruno Mars will always make me dance. I think it’s one of those songs that will stand the test of time and would’ve sounded great way before it’s time. It’ll have me dancing for years!



heart theory is out now.
Photograph by Jeremy Cowart.