INTRODUCING DEVON BASED CHEESECAKE LOVING SINGER SONGWRITER, ELLA PARAMOR....
Ella Paramor is a 17 year old who is completely passionate about music and writing it. She's sang with Will Young and Haley Westenra when she was part of DCJC (Devon County Junior Choir). One of her tracks has been played on BBC introducing and has been complimented on by the bassist from The Vamps. She's performed at many venues and busked on Exeter High streets with many watchers. Her genre is indie/singer songwriter/pop. She is a very confident person and is happy to play at any new venues to perform or support other artists.
We caught up with Ella recently where we chatted about what music means to her, living in a world without cheesecake or grapes and wanting to become invisible (from time to time), here's how we got on....
When did you become a singer songwriter?
Well, I'm not really sure when, I didn't just decided on a specific day that 'I was a songwriter' but my first official song I wrote was back in the end of 2012. So I guess you could claim I've been a songwriter since then.
Was there one act or artist who made you want to start playing and writing music?
Jack Johnson, straight up. He was the first ever artist I ever listened to, his album 'In-Between Dreams' was constantly played to me by my mum and to this day I know all the lyrics, he's a lyrical genius and has such a passionate voice and I wanted to be like him.
If I asked your friends to describe you using just 3 words, what do you think they would say?
I actually asked my friends because I honestly didn't know, their response was: confident, sings-a-lot and caring.
What does music mean to you?
Everything. It can change so much about someone, one lyrical line can change someone's perspective on anything. When I write music, I feel so with it, like it’s a flow, and I like that, it's hard to explain how much, but it means a great deal, and I'm sure a lot of people that write music relate.
Do you come from a musical background?
My younger brother and sister both can sing but not my parents or other relatives, though my dad used to play guitar often and owns quite a few guitars.
What was the very first song you learned to play on guitar?
I don't actually play guitar, I play piano and have for years but only last weekend did I pick up a guitar and learn a few songs as there's so many scattered around our house.
You recently played at ‘Gemfest’ which was hosted at the Exeter Phoenix Arts Centre, do you think that local venues are doing enough of these types of events to help keep music ‘alive’?
I would say so yeah, they could probably do a few more because its pure talent that performs there.
Who would you say are your main musical influences?
Amy Winehouse, Ed Sheeran and Jack Johnson.
What is your idea of hell?
Wherever there's no music, cheesecake or grapes.
What are your aspirations as a musician?
For people to enjoy my music as much as I love making it.
If you could duet with ANYONE (dead, alive or fictional) who would it be and why?
Amy Winehouse or Nina Simone. Both voices give me shivers, if beauty could be defined by voices they'd be the definition.
Are you planning on taking your music forward as your career?
This question, I've had a lot, and you get very mixed responses with the reply, I'm currently at College and so much pressure is put on you for your future and uni, so I broke down, and I was so undeceive, I finally decided to take on my music career and study popular music when I go to University. I know it’s a competitive world out there, but its all I've ever really wanted to do, and I love it.
There are so many young, aspiring musicians out there in Devon, is there a local place where you can all hang out and chat about songwriting and playing?
Not really. Soon, one of my friends, Holly, is doing a get together with everyone from hospice care to 'jam' so that'll be great
Where do you play on a regular basis, do you have a favourite venue?
I play on a regular basis at home whenever I can but I do not have a favourite venue, I'd like to have one.
If you could have a super power, what would it be and why?
Invisibility, so I can watch gigs without paying.
What are your views about the use of smartphone and tablet use at concerts, do you think they should be banned?
I don’t really have much of an opinion on it but I don't understand why it should be banned, people want to share their experience of the gig so why shouldn’t they?
What was the first gig that you ever went to and what was the most recent (as a paying customer?)
First gig was Muse in Birmingham and still my favourite. My most recent gig was my friends band Lipstick Jumpsuit at Exeter Cavern. They were great.
How do you approach songwriting?, is there a ‘magic formula’?
Sit at the piano, have the motivation, write a new chord progression and write about how I'm feeling.
As I mentioned above, there are many young musicians in the Devon area, please nominate 3 that I can approach for an ‘Introducing’ feature….
Lipstick jumpsuit
If you were on a desert island and could only have 3 items, what would they be and why?
My piano
My boyfriend
Grapes
Are you planning any festival appearances for 2015?
Tiverton Balloon Festival with my support band, that’s the only verified one right now.
Ella couldn't live without grapes, boyfriends and cheesecake, we couldn't live without her taking part in our 'Quickfire' round of questions, we promised her that we would do everything we could to make sure that her list was always in plentiful supply in exchange for some answers, a fair trade I thought....
Hot Chocolate or Cappucino?
Cappucino
Oasis or Blur?
Oasis
Bagel or Crumpet?
Bagel
Loop Pedal or Chorus Pedal?
Loop pedal
Great British Bake Off or Masterchef?
Great British Bake Off
Night out or night in?
Night in
BBQ or Picnic?
BBQ
Strictly or X-Factor?
X-factor
Festival or normal gig?
Never been to a festival, so it'll have to be a gig
Camping or Campervan?
Camping
Beach or Pool?
Beach
Sunbathing or Snowboarding?
Sunbathing
Paperback or Kindle?
Paperback
God or Google?
We'd like to thank Ella for taking time out to answer our questions, we wish her every success in the future and look forward to maybe catching her live in the not too distant future. Please take a moment to browse through her social media sites, they're all listed below for you, just point and click.....
Social Media
Interview by Steve Muscutt