Introducing Nicki Wells’ intimate and honest debut album Ellipsis

Introducing the infinitely talented Nicki Wells with her highly-anticipated debut album, Ellipsis. Comprised of 12 intimate and honest tracks that traverse topics like love, heartbreak, longing, nostalgia, healing and more in a record that’s truly reflective of just what Nicki is capable of. Intertwining of Indian classical, Celtic folk, eastern European choral and western pop music, this self-produced and composed record represents years of consuming music in all four corners of the globe. All before the age of 10, Nicki experienced her formative years first in London and then Rome and then Himachal Pradesh, India, surrounded by the dramatic landscape of the Himalayas. It’s no wonder that Nicki’s sound is somewhat difficult to place, but that’s what gives it that extra beauty.

In addition to the influences of her youth, Nicki Wells has also worked with many creatives (beyond the music industry!) that reflects her globalist approach to music. After attending university in Sydney, Australia, she came across Nitin Sawhney’s music, whose own work includes collaboration with Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, Jeff Beck and Sinead O’Connor. It was this artist, with the unique mix of east and west traditions, that sparked a new direction for Nicki, eventually leading to a collaboration of her own and ten years of touring with the legendary musician.

It might surprise listeners to learn that this globe trotter found her way back to the UK, settling in Greenwich, London before departing for the countryside during the covid-19 pandemic. This is where the first seeds of her new album were planted. During that time of isolation, Nicki wrote an astonishing 180 songs, the best of those forming the basis of Ellipsis.

“Every sound you hear was hand-crafted… it was like having my own chiselling tools, working on every detail,” is how Nicki describes the final product. It’s one that she had total control over, choosing each instrument, texture, and poignant pause. You’ll hear the piano she first learnt to play on as a child, real strings, double bass, drums, muffled notes, orchestral flourishes and more.