Herefordshire’s homegrown star Ellie Goulding continues her meteoric rise to fame with the release of her debut full-length album Lights this week, at the same time her single Starry Eyed raced into the charts at number four.
And if that wasn’t enough to contend with, the Brit award winner has also secured a spot on the bill at this year’s V Festival.
Born and brought up in the county, 23-year-old Ellie’s massive success has brought delight to former classmates at Lady Hawkins’ School in Kington, friends across the area and former neighbours at Lyonshall where she lived – and, of course, her own family.
At Christmas, she took time out from her frantic schedule as Britain’s hottest new property in the music world to visit her 20-year-old brother Alex, who is himself developing a reputation in Hereford with his band Turbo Slug.
Alex, who works in the city’s M&S store, said though he wasn’t surprised at his famous sister’s remarkable achievements, it was still “very strange” to see her face appearing on a multitude of magazine covers.
“I don’t think any differently about her really, but it’s very strange when people come up to me and ask about Ellie,” says Alex.
“Obviously I’m very proud of her, and it is slightly different sitting with your sister when her picture’s on the front of NME (New Musical Express)!”
Alex grew up in Lyonshall with his three sisters Izzy, Ellie and Jordan, and was largely inspired by his father, John and godfather Phil Heinricy. Like his sister, he writes his own music, though Turbo Slug plays “Black Sabbath style and a bit heavier”. Already the three-piece band is developing a strong reputation in Hereford.
The band’s bass player, Alex says Turbo Slug is currently rehearsing for new gigs this spring.
“I don’t get to see Ellie that often these days but we speak often, and she came to the store to see me at Christmas,” he says. “She also helped me move from Almeley into Hereford.”
Music shops at Hereford report that Ellie’s CD has been the biggest seller in the city. At one High Town store, staff said a number of shoppers expressed pride in the local star. “Some of them were saying they know her, or went to school with her,” said one assistant.
