Ella Hooper burst onto the Australian music scene as the technicolour front woman of Killing Heidi, an unlikely success story – the teenage band from the bush who went on to explode the naughties, claiming pop rock dominion over the turn of the millennium with a string of hit singles, no.1 album, sold out tours, Rolling Stone covers and more. Ella was the first ever woman and youngest person to be awarded APRA’s Songwriter of the Year Award.
Now three albums deep into a celebrated solo career evolving over synth folk, rock, country and Americana, Ella also balances a successful side hustle having hosted multiple TV and radio shows, including the hit music trivia shows Spicks and Specks, RocKwiz and most recently music/disability docuseries, Headliners for ABC TV, making her more than just a pop singer in her native Australia.
Ella’s most recent album Small Town Temple explores her love of Country/Americana. Written in her tiny hometown of Violet Town in a period where, tragically, she lost both her beloved parents to cancer within two weeks of each other, Small Town Temple has been praised for its heart, authenticity and unique ‘Australiana’ perspective. The album debuted at No.1 on the Australian Country chart and was nominated for the prestigious Australian Music Prize.
Firmly in her Americana country era and carrying enough highs and lows to really do the genre justice, Ella is now collaborating on a new record with Grammy Award-winning Nashville stalwarts including Jim Lauderdale, Steve Poltz, Melody Walker (Sierra Ferrell) and LOLLIES aka Clare Reynolds (Rachel Baiman, Timbaland).
Hooper is currently splitting her time between Nashville and Melbourne. While touring throughout Australia, she regularly visits Nashville, writing and recording the next instalment of her unique and brilliant brand of Americana.
Ella Hooper is a rare combination of well-seasoned artist and dedicated proponent of ‘beginners mind’; always curious, always peering around the corner.
REVIEWS / TESTIMONIALS
Ella Hooper is a beacon of positive energy no matter the stage she’s on – The Music
An absolute force within the Australian music industry – Forte Magazine