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Every Monday we will be bringing you interviews with UK or Ireland artists for Independent Music Monday. Recently we caught up with Dublin artist Ellis Nayr to find out more…

Where are you from and how did you first get into music?
I’m from Dublin, Ireland, it’s hard to say where exactly within the capital I’m from as I’ve moved around a lot throughout my life since the early stages of my childhood, but I’m 100% Irish as far as I know, maybe a DNA test would give me a surprise. I got introduced to music at an early age listening to Akon, Eminem, Red Hot Chili Peppers, music became an absolute obsession growing up and that’s what took up a lot of my days, Hip Hop in particular was what I was drawn to the most. I started writing lyrics when I was sixteen, then eventually set up my own home studio at the age of 20, I was experimenting a lot with different melodic trap sounds, this was during the emergence of the 2016/2017 SoundCloud era of rap where a lot started to change in the industry.

Who were your musical influences when you were growing up and who are your influences now?
I loved Akon, I remember when I was seven going to Golden Discs and getting his Konvicted album, that was full of beautiful melodies. Eminem too with his Recovery album, Linkin Park, Korn, Slipknot, Example. That was then, in recent years I’ve been influenced by Depeche Mode, Lil Skies, Saint JHN, Night Lovell, my sound definitely evolved over time.

How would you describe your sound?
It’s a melodic style of Rapping that I’ve formed myself in to, I’ve been told a few times by people that I have a Rock sounding voice and I recognise that too. What I create is a mixture of energetic melancholy electronic trap, I connect with these sort of frequencies, when I compose something I want it to show some sort of meaning.

What is your latest release called and what was the influence behind it?
My latest release is Empty, a song that is on my album Diary of Devotion. I made this song during the winter time, and in around that season people tend to get the winter blues. The song is about getting out of the clutches of the thoughts that may have you feeling trapped in life.

What’s your local music scene like?
It’s strong and active in a beautiful way, a lot of other artists are supportive of one another, we all show up like that to lift each other up.

What do you have planned for the next 12 months?
More music videos, visuals are key to marketing yourself. I’d like to do more shows, you get such an adrenaline rush from doing that which you love. I’ve got a lot of songs I’ve written I’d like to finish recording and continue releasing music. Above all this though, I’ve love to perform at a festival.

Is there anyone you’d love to collaborate with?
If I had the choice regardless of them being less known or bigger artists, I’d love to collaborate with Polo G.

Any funny stories surrounding your live performances?
I once performed at a venue where it was me, one other rapper and four other people scheduled to perform. Those four people weren’t able to make it for their set so we had loads of more time to just perform whatever we wanted.

What is the one thing that you want readers to know about you?
I’m just an easy going guy looking to pursue what I’m most passionate about, and while all doing this, meeting some decent people who possibly have a similar outlook/goal. Sometimes it’s just strange how life can go.

You can find out more about Ellis via Bandcamp, Instagram, Spotify, TikTok or YouTube.