Ellur | |
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 Ellur performing in 2025 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Ella Megan McNamara 21 November 2000 Halifax, West Yorkshire, England |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments |
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| Years active | 2020–present |
| Labels | Dance to the Radio |
| Website | ellur |
Ella Megan McNamara (born 21 November 2000), known professionally as Ellur, is a British singer-songwriter from Halifax, England. She is the daughter of Embrace guitarist Richard McNamara.
Ella Megan McNamara [1] was born on 21 November 2000 [2] and grew up in Halifax, West Yorkshire. Her stage name is a pronunciation spelling of her given name based on the Yorkshire accent. [3] [4] Her father is Richard McNamara, one of the co-founders of the rock band Embrace along with his brother Danny. [5] Her mother worked as an art teacher, and McNamara has described wanting to become both a musician and a teacher while growing up. [4] Her parents are divorced, [5] something which has influenced her music, in particular her 2025 single "The World Is Not An Oyster". [6]
Before embarking on a full-time career in music McNamara worked various jobs, including as a barista and a gardener, [5] while playing covers sets in pubs on weekends. [7] Her first single, "Reflection", was uploaded to streaming services in January 2020. [8] In August of the following year she released her debut EP, Moments, through Leeds-based independent record label Dance to the Radio. [9]
Ellur has undertaken two UK tours as a headline act; a three-date tour in 2024, [10] and a sold-out six-date tour the following year. [6] She has also appeared as a support act for established bands such as Kaiser Chiefs, Blossoms and Supergrass. [8] In August 2024, she and her band played a set on the BBC Music Introducing stage at Leeds Festival. [11] She has since gone on to play other large festivals including Latitude and South by Southwest, [8] the latter of which was her first performance in the United States. [12]
Her first studio album, At Home In My Mind, is due to be released on 6 February 2026. [3]
Ellur's musical style has been described as indie, [6] pop, [8] and indie pop. [13] Her music has been likened to that of her contemporaries such as Holly Humberstone and Nieve Ella by NME , [5] while Dork made comparisons to Sharon Van Etten and Wolf Alice. [14] She has named a wide range of artists and bands amongst her influences, including Adele, [7] Coldplay, Radiohead, Embrace, [6] Adrianne Lenker, CMAT, The War on Drugs, Sam Fender, The 1975 and Dora Jar; [15] this diverse array of inspirations led to The Line of Best Fit describing her music as "collagic". [4] She has also credited the "space and serenity" [3] of her Yorkshire home and her co-songwriters such as Joel Johnston and Benjamin Francis Leftwich with helping to develop her style. [4] [6]
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