Name: Ormella
Occupation: Singer, songwriter, director, writer, performer
Nationality: British
Current release: Ormella's Stick the Knife in EP is out now.
Recommendations: "Lightning song" by Chester Caine is my favourite song at the moment and it’s under a 1000 plays which is so crazy!
And the book I just read, Reasons to stay alive, by Matt Haig changed my life.

If you enjoyed this Ormella interview and would like to stay up to date with her music, visit her on Instagram.
 


Do you think that some of your earliest musical experiences planted a seed for your interest in writing lyrics or poetry? How and when did you start writing?

I started writing music as soon as I understood that I could! I couldn’t tell you what age exactly but probably around 12/13. I was fortunate enough to grow up with a piano in the house but it was when I bought my first guitar with money I saved from working in Westfield that I really started to write full songs (17?).

Lyrics, interesting melodies and song structures have always been something I’ve been innately drawn to. My nature has always taken me into the arms of that kind of music.

At that age I listened to artists like Florence, Fiona Apple and I remember Nadia Reid’s album Listen to Formation, Look for the Signs was on a daily rotation for me. It still is even!



It is sometimes said that “music begins where words end.” What do you make of that?

Blimey, ahah!  I don’t know if I agree? I often don’t know what I’m going to write about and it usually comes out from the music.

Words being where music starts would be my version!

Entering new worlds and escapism through music and literature have always exerted a very strong pull on me. What do you think you are drawn to most when it comes to writing?

That’s lovely and I definitely feel the same, in terms of listening to other artists.

I wouldn’t say it’s escapism when I’m writing though, more like therapy as my subjects, especially on my debut EP, are the partners I’ve had to leave behind. I’m definitely most drawn to writing about my past relationships as there has always been so much unsaid.

What were some of the artists and albums which inspired you early on purely on the strength of their lyrics? What moves you in the lyrics of other artists?

Artists like Father John Misty, Florence + the Machine, Lianne La Havas, Fiona Apple, Lana Del Rey, Nick Drake, Nadia Reid, Leonard Cohen ... move me beyond belief.



I think it’s the rawness, vulnerability and honesty that pours out of them. The strength of their voices accompanied with such beautiful lyricism is heaven to me.

I have always considered many forms of music to be a form of poetry as well. Where do you personally see similarities? What can music express which may be out of reach for poetry?

Music has layers of expression, not just from the singer, but from each instrument, and in turn the artist commanding the instrument. There is a whole world of feeling that exists in music.

The similarity for me would be the storytelling and emotion ... but I’ve never been one to write a poem …

I would consider myself a songwriter to be honest. I think my words are meant for music.


Ormella Interview Image (c) the artist

The relationship between words and music has always intrigued me. How do you see it?

They should exist together to create the most out of one another.

I couldn’t write a happy song to the chords of “Never’s a Promise” for example.

What kind of musical settings and situations do you think are ideal for your lyrics?

All the festivals I didn’t get to do this year, and that I’m hoping to do next year!

When working on music, when do the lyrics enter the picture? Where do they come from? Do lyrics need to grow together with the music or can they emerge from a place of their own?

Lyrics, melody and the lead instrument part usually come together all at the same time for me. Usually I then go away and just finesse things a little more if I haven’t fully caught what I’m trying to say in the moment.

I’ve never written lyrics away from the world of song making, unless it’s something I’m trying to finish.   

Do you feel like the music triggers specific words inside you? Or is it more of a feeling or a memory? Would you say there is instantly an entire idea in front of you or does the story grow as you keep listening to the music?

100% the music is triggering, but it’s that along with whatever is going on in my life at that time/subconscious that makes the song come out. Also if I’m alone, or with company.

More generally, how far can music take you to places with your writing you would possibly not have visited without it?
 
It’s definitely allowed me to express my darker emotions, or to acknowledge my anger even. I think I bury those feelings under smiles most days.

When you're writing song lyrics, do you sense or see a connection between your voice and the text? Does it need to feel and sound “good” or “right” to sing certain words? What's your perspective in this regard of singing someone else's songs versus your own?

Well of course and thinking about it, occasionally I’ll change words to one’s that have nicer vowels. “oh,s’ are so much nicer than “ee’s” to me for example. They’re so much more emotional. Ideally every word has to feel and sound right.

In terms of singing other people's songs I would say that I’ll want to sing them if they’ve achieved that for me in my heart.

How far are you consciously aware of the meaning of the lyrics you're writing during the creative process? Do you need to have a concrete concept or can the words take the lead?

Words take the lead always. I’m not a concept writer at all. I just write about what I’m feeling at the time. It would feel weird to me to write something that wasn’t true to me.

What is the value of song lyrics or hip hop bars outside of the music?

Not sure if this is hugely relatable to me but I think they have their value from the melody and how that can still exist in your head if you’re not actually listening to it in the moment.


Ormella Interview Image (c) the artist

How do you see the relationship between harmony, rhythm and melody? Do you feel that honig your sense of rhythm and groove has an effect on your lyrics-writing skills?

I think I’m very lucky to work with Katie May who finds rhythm out of what I sometimes consider songs that can only exist with just the guitar part I’ve written. I really just focus on lyrics and melody.

Creativity can reach many different corners of our lives. Do you feel as though writing or performing a piece of poetry is inherently different from something like making a great cup of coffee? What do you express through music that you couldn't or wouldn't in more 'mundane' tasks?

That’s an interesting thought ... I suppose for a baker that might be their way of expressing themselves but I wouldn’t get the same thing out of it.

I find so much joy and I’m able to express myself through song in a way that I can’t through anything else.