Quick-fire Questions: 10 minutes with ELLiS-D
Imagine if David Byrne and David Bowie merged in a bizarre scene from a 1980s sci-fi bonanza. Then imagine if that new beast wandered into a goth club during that same era. Half glam rock, half neurotic punk but fully stylistic in its musical carnage. The result is ELLiS-D.
When he’s not racing around the world as a touring session musician, ELLiS-D steps into the limelight as one of the most electric live performers I’ve seen in a long time. Upstairs at Folklore rooms, the set I caught had a whole room switching between frantic dancing and stilled amazement, standing there with our mouths dropped open. Amid a music scene that seems to be birthing greatness after greatness, ELLiS-D stands out as the crown jewel of Brighton’s vibrant class of ones-to-watch.
Track after track, his musical world widens into an incredibly adventurous yet skillfully crafted one. Despite being booked up as a beats man, his guitar playing is what really catches the attention. Each of his songs is fueled by pure fire, always feeling totally and utterly wired in this frantic yet slick fashion. Like Byrne flailing around in a big suit but painted with Bowie’s glitzy polish and a touch of Ian Curtis’ almost scarily intense energy, his vibe is the sum of many great parts.
But who is the man behind it all? On stage, ELLiS-D feels like an enigma, unafraid to stare down his crowd as he delivers a high-octane, unrelenting ear-drum blaster of a set. But it’s time to get to know Ellis Dickinson, the man behind it all.
Quick-fire Questions with ELLiS-D:
Introduce yourself in three words…
“Lanky, Rhythmic, Introvert.”
Introduce your music in three words…
“Flamboyant, nervous, noir.”
What’s your favourite song written about (or under the influence of) LSD?
“I don’t know for sure that it was written under the influence, but fairly confident ‘Reward’ by Teardrop Explodes involved at least one band member shooting lasers out their eyes whilst the tape was rolling on that one.”
When did you know you were bound for superstardom?
“Haha! That’s one way to go about getting a headline-grabbing quote. I’m going to be boring, I’m afraid, and say I try to leave all ego tripping for when the stage lights are on.”
Here’s the classic dinner party question: who are your five dream guests, dead or alive?
“Carl Sagan, Quentin Tarantino, Bette Davis, Mhairi Black, Karl Pilkington.”
If you were playing your dream gig, what would the venue be like?
“For atmosphere, I don’t think open-air venues can be beaten. Last week, I did some session drumming at a festival on an island off the north coast of Norway that was idyllic. I’d love to do a big open-air stage on a summer night on a beach or coastline somewhere in Europe as part of an album tour.”
If you could have your dream backing band consist of any musicians from history, who would play alongside you?
“Jaki Leibezeit on drums. Tina Weymouth on bass. Tom Verlaine and John Dwyer on guitar. Nubiya Garcia on sax. Ray Manzarek on keys. And can I get Little Simz to do a guest vocal?”
What’s your favourite song from your own discography?
“I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of playing ‘Degenerate Effeminate’ live. It allows me to play a version of myself for five minutes a night that I struggle to be a lot of the rest of the time. I also have a strong affinity for an old demo EP track ‘Secret On Your Sleeve’ that I will whip out for an encore from time to time.”
Which of your own songs are you kind of over?
“Without wanting to sound arrogant there’s nothing I have released that I have tired of. There are certainly some old demos I go back to sometimes and have to switch off – but I’m genuinely proud of everything I’ve put out into the world. Although I wish I’d put vocals on the title track of Hullo, Reality!.”
Beyond your own music, what new artists do you love at the moment?
“Brighton is an amazing place to be right now for new music, it’s exciting to be a part of such a great scene. Some of my local faves are Plantoid, Oral Habit, Hutch, Call Me Franco, Harper, Ideal Living, Flip Top Head and Soft Top. Special mention always to Frank & Beans, who I will never not headbang to.”
What’s your most controversial music opinion?
“Never gotten into Kanye West, even the early records.”
What’s the worst and best thing about being a musician?
“It’s the best job in the world. What else is there to say? Travelling the world to places you’d otherwise never see doing what you love. The industry can be backwards sometimes, but what industry isn’t? I love it, and getting hung up on small grievances would only spoil the experience. I count myself very fortunate every day to be able to do any of this.”
If you were the most famous person in the world and could ask for anything, what would be on your rider?
“Table Tennis..and Cafe Patron.”
What makes a good gig?
“Energy, passion, and a clear love of what you’re doing on stage. I’ve got no time for bands or artists who seemingly don’t care or don’t want to be there.”
Are The Beatles overrated?
“Yes. Apart from Revolver.”
