The Newest Incarnation of Ella Fence: ‘All I Do Is Think’
To describe Ella Fence in three words: You Just Can’t.
Since 2015 the electropop singer has been releasing a body of work that is consistently, beautifully inconsistent. From the acoustically edged, soulful tone of her 2015 debut single ‘Unknown Water’ through to the complete electronic production and hypnotic energy of her most recent release ‘Love Me On Purpose,’ Fence shows no fear when it comes to experimentation and reinvention – in fact, she’s building a career around it.
A self-described shape shifter, Ella’s work brings to mind hints of Billie Eilish one minute, and Golden Features the next, the only common threads between her songs being her unique vocal tone, and detailed, story-telling based lyricism. 2019 saw the release of her last 3 singles, a hugely successful ‘Don’t Feed The Monster’ Tour, air time on Triple J, and placement on several significant Spotify playlists. Not one to lose her momentum, Fence has already announced her first release of 2020 – a mini EP entitled ‘All I Do Is Think’ (with hints of two more to follow over the year).
‘All I Do Is Think’ represents Fence’s latest reinvention, a three track EP with three entirely different yet interwoven songs, ‘Pink Mojitos,’ ‘She’s Looking Pretty,’ and ‘Japan.’ Described as a story told backwards, the record travels from bright bubblegum pop and summertime energy, to ethereal dream pop tinged with heartbreak.
‘Pink Mojitos’ is absolutely the highlight of the release, delivering an upbeat, summertime pop hit, paired with lyrics that on the surface seem light and carefree, but actually contain a story worth telling, and emotions that match the ebb and flow of the music perfectly. The music itself is continually engaging, not so electronic as to feel robotic, with some great piano, guitar, and synth hooks throughout. While the verse and chorus at first blush seem to be completely at odds with one another, they somehow blend smoothly, balancing one another out. The upbeat and carefree tone is given meaning and depth, while the intensity is given a release.
Sometimes I think you don’t see me
You see the body of a girl
Whose bones bend for you
Whose breath breaks for you
Fence takes an abrupt turn with ‘She’s Looking Pretty.’ Where ‘Pink Mojitos’ dives straight into the action, ‘She’s Looking Pretty’ takes its time, with a pensive, bare guitar riff opening the track. Lyrically, the song doesn’t shy from its emotion. It’s direct, literal, honest, and heartbreaking. The song starts and ends with the most acoustic sound you’ll find in any of her recent work, and its executed beautifully to drive home the emotion of the song. Fence’s use of thin fold vocals in the verses serves the audience a rare and genuine vulnerability. The track also features some of the experimentation with sound that makes Ella’s music so compelling, recapturing the listener again and again. If ‘Pink Mojitos’ was the EP’s technical triumph, ‘She’s Looking Pretty’ takes the gold for emotional impact.
We were a family
Now we’re strangers
Nothing’s the same since she came along
Said you look happy
Oh what a feeling
I would have died for you
Finally, ‘Japan.’ This is the most sonically unique and enthralling track on the record. The combination of hypnotic, breathtaking vocals, and captivating beats and production has created something truly magical on this track. While the introspective song features Fence’s signature incredible lyricism – when faced with the delivery of the song, the lyrics almost become the least important part of the track. The song contains some bold production choices and dives away from convention that prove Ella’s commitment to experimentation and reinvention can only be a good thing.
With three EPs on the way and constant touring to share them, 2020 is looking to be a busy year for Ella Fence – but if ‘All I Do Is Think’ is anything to go by, it’s going to be a fantastic year for her listeners.