At just 22, alt-pop singer-songwriter Ella Red is reshaping pop storytelling with her debut album It’s Not Real, a project that circles beginnings and endings with cathartic force. Opening with the stark line “I can see my corpse in reflections” on “Parasite,” she builds whole worlds from single lyrics. Across tracks like “He Asked For It,” “Religion,” and “Party Animal,” Ella balances rage, reverence, and playfulness. Singles such as “Ball and Chain” and “We’re All Going to Die” showcase her vocal range and existential wit, while “Predator” and “Funeral” experiment with form and imagery that feels mythic yet intimate.
Ella Red