“But my relationship feels separate from what I do. “When I got married, I think everyone around expected me to suddenly start writing about the joy of being in love,” she says. Such themes might not be quite what you expect from a singer who, in 2019, got married to art dealer Caspar Jopling. Here, Goulding ruminates on eye-roll-inducing dates with narcissists (the pulsating, prowling “Power”), exes she can’t quite shake (“Flux,” “Bleach”), and growing into womanhood. “Brightest Blue” is Goulding’s most powerful (and empowered) work to date-a raw, vulnerable, and thrilling exploration of the “chaos and corruption” of her twenties. But actually, I think I’m a lot more than that.” I do really appreciate the songs -I love their lightheartedness.

“That's why I want to release both sides of this album. “I've always been a vocalist and a musician and a songwriter, but I think sometimes that's got lost and blurred a bit,” says Goulding. The album's second part-“EG.0”-sees the singer delve into her bag of pop hits, with collaborations from Diplo, Lauv, and the late Juice WRLD. On its first (and central) part, “Brightest Blue,” Goulding showcases her singer-songwriter credentials, drawing together euphoric choruses, pounding basslines, string arrangements, and piano ballads.

This is not what I wanted to do.’ I was in such a bad place on that album, and I’m never afraid to admit that.” After a much-needed break (“I had to stop touring, stay in one place for a few months, and spend some time with myself”) and a brief foray into a Beach Boys-inspired sound (“I watched a film about them and was like, ‘Oh my god’”), Goulding landed on the idea of releasing a double album. “I very quickly realized that when I was performing the songs, I was finding it cringe. “When I listen to these songs, I feel proud of them.” Ask the same question of its predecessor, Delirium-the polished pop record Goulding released in 2015-and she isn’t quite as gushing. “Oh my gosh, it’s like a new world,” Goulding tells Apple Music. Ask Ellie Goulding how she feels about her fourth album, Brightest Blue, and the singer responds by exhaling deeply.

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