BIOGRAPHY
Elly Hopkins is a Bristol-based songwriter and musician whose work spans the edges of folk, rock, and alt-country. After several years carving out a reputation as a jazz vocalist on stages including Glastonbury Festival, Boomtown and the Royal Albert Hall, Hopkins made a deliberate shift toward writing her own material — trading standards for guitar, grit, and a more direct way of telling her stories.
2025 marks the release of her debut EP 'Animal', a project that has already begun to establish her as a compelling new voice in UK alt-folk-rock. The EP grew out of a long period of transition and reflection, and its songs explore themes of jealousy, self-doubt, autonomy, and personal reckoning with a steady, unembellished honesty. 'Cecile', the first single, arrived in June to strong early support and was described by Listen With Monger as “a genuinely lovely song even if it does smell a little of last night’s bourbon.” The follow-up single, 'Animal', deepened that impression — a darker, blues-soaked track that signals the core of her new sound.
Press have quickly recognised the shift. BBC Introducing in the West praised her “really powerful vocals and poignant storytelling,” while Obscure Sound called Animal “a striking debut… gripping, from-the-heart songwriting.” Right Chord Music noted that her lyrics, though rooted in personal experience, feel “deeply universal,” reflecting the balance of emotional depth and clear, unaffected delivery that defines her work.
On stage, Hopkins performs either solo or with her four-piece band, bringing a impassioned, commanding presence. Her voice carries warmth and bite in equal measure, moving easily between grit and tenderness. Live, the focus is on connection rather than spectacle: songs delivered with clarity, intention, and emotional weight.
With Animal, Hopkins steps confidently into a new chapter. Over the next year she plans to expand her touring, develop full-band arrangements, and begin work on her debut album. Her sound may be rooted in familiar traditions, but her perspective is entirely her own — thoughtful, sharp-edged, and steadily carving out its place.
2025 marks the release of her debut EP 'Animal', a project that has already begun to establish her as a compelling new voice in UK alt-folk-rock. The EP grew out of a long period of transition and reflection, and its songs explore themes of jealousy, self-doubt, autonomy, and personal reckoning with a steady, unembellished honesty. 'Cecile', the first single, arrived in June to strong early support and was described by Listen With Monger as “a genuinely lovely song even if it does smell a little of last night’s bourbon.” The follow-up single, 'Animal', deepened that impression — a darker, blues-soaked track that signals the core of her new sound.
Press have quickly recognised the shift. BBC Introducing in the West praised her “really powerful vocals and poignant storytelling,” while Obscure Sound called Animal “a striking debut… gripping, from-the-heart songwriting.” Right Chord Music noted that her lyrics, though rooted in personal experience, feel “deeply universal,” reflecting the balance of emotional depth and clear, unaffected delivery that defines her work.
On stage, Hopkins performs either solo or with her four-piece band, bringing a impassioned, commanding presence. Her voice carries warmth and bite in equal measure, moving easily between grit and tenderness. Live, the focus is on connection rather than spectacle: songs delivered with clarity, intention, and emotional weight.
With Animal, Hopkins steps confidently into a new chapter. Over the next year she plans to expand her touring, develop full-band arrangements, and begin work on her debut album. Her sound may be rooted in familiar traditions, but her perspective is entirely her own — thoughtful, sharp-edged, and steadily carving out its place.
