Ellie Goulding - Biography
Ellie Goulding is an English singer/songwriter who, in 2010, became the second artist to win the BBC Sound Of... critics poll and the Critic's Choice Award at the Brit Awards in the same year. Goulding signed to Polydor in 2009 and co-wrote songs for other artists before releasing her debut full-length, Lights. The album was released in the UK in March 2010 and reached number one on the UK album charts. It was re-released as Bright Lights in November 2010 with bonus tracks, including a cover of Elton John's "Your Song" which became her biggest hit in the UK (she was asked to perform that song live at Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding in 2012). In support of Lights, she toured with Passion Pit and performed at numerous European festivals including Glastonbury, T In the Park, and Pukelpop.
Goulding made her US debut one year later when Lights (Interscope) was released domestically in March 2011. That same year she performed at Amoeba San Francisco, Coachella and on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. She released the Live at Amoeba San Francisco EP on November 21, 2011. After 23 weeks on the US Billboard Charts, her single "Lights" finally reached the top in August 2012, making it the longest climb to number one by a woman in Billboard's history and nearly a year and a half after the album was released in the US.
Goulding's sophomore studio album, Halcyon (Interscope), was released in both the UK and the US in October 2012, debuting at number two on the UK Albums Chart and number nine on the Billboard 200. On October 17, 2012 Goulding performed an acoustic set at Amoeba Hollywood with fans lining up outside the store hours before.