According to billboard.com, Ellie Goulding’s next project is imminent as she gets ready for the release of her fifth album, Higher Than Heaven, and recently discussed the LP’s first single, “Easy Lover” featuring Big Sean. Although fans got to hear “Easy Lover” following its July release, the track was actually several year sin the making.
According to Goulding, “I wrote ‘Easy Lover’ about five years ago in Los Angeles. I was with Greg Kurstin, one of my favorite producers of all time, and Julia Michaels, who’s an amazing songwriter, I think one of us was dealing with a known f–kboy at the time, but we ended up with a song about going back to the same person who’s hurt you and you think you can change them. We always say we can change someone, and we can’t.” Adding that, “I can’t help but write about situations we all go through. I love the idea that someone can listen to my songs and feel like they’re getting some kind of advice or some help. I like to help people. At the same time, I grew up on house music and dance music and pop music, so if I can do both somehow, I often do.”
“Easy Lover” featured Big Sean rapping on the track, a collaboration that has been in the making since he sampled Goulding’s 2009 track, “Fighter Plane” on his 2011 single “High” featuring Wiz Khalifa and Chiddy Bang. The two have maintained contact ever since, which ended up with them joining together for “Easy Lover.”
According to Goulding herself, “We’ve stayed in touch for years because he sampled me a couple of times, I always feel like there’s something pretty special in someone who appreciates me that early on as an an artist, so I’ve stayed in touch with everyone from that era, in particular him because I think’s he’s consistently been a brilliant artist. At some point we were going to do a collab, and it just happened to be this song.”
She also provided an update on Higher Than Heaven’s releases and teased the next single saying, “The album’s done, although I’m sure it will get to the release date of the beginning of next year and I’ll be like ‘No! There’s more songs to write!’ But I have a couple more songs coming out this year. The next one I’m really excited about. It’s one of those songs that isn’t a radio song, but something I think people will enjoy.” Higher Than Heaven is set for arrival on February third, 2023.
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