EP Review: God Help Me Now // Ellur

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Sarah Oglesby

2024 was a big year for a number of artists, Chappell Roan reached worldwide acclaim, Sabrina Carpenter took the world by storm with Short n’ Sweet, and the frighteningly articulate rap trio, Kneecap, put Belfast firmly back on the map with their self-titled movie and incredible live performances. One artist whose successes cannot be ignored from the list is that of Ella McNamara.

Operating under the playful moniker, Ellur, Ella has made a name for herself on the indie music scene with her driving, infectious cuts and introspective lyrics. Having supported both Blossoms and Robbie Williams in the last year, as well as performing at Reading & Leeds’ BBC introducing stage, Ellur is ensuring 2025 carries on with the same impressive trajectory.

Unveiling her latest project in the form of sophomore EP, God Help Me Now, Ellur showcases her most developed work to date in a sweet package of four tracks that take listeners on a layered journey anthemic tracks and contemporary cuts. With the EP, Ellur moves away from her indie rock roots and dives headfirst into lush folk-pop intonations.

Taking inspiration from the likes of Big Thief and Radiohead, Ellur notes on the EP: “The God Help Me Now EP feels like the first time I’ve had both hands on the wheel when it comes to my music. Up until I wrote these songs, I was still very much finding myself and figuring out what I want to do with music. The lyrics are intentionally vulnerable and confessional and are living within a classic indie world that’s coloured with electronic twists. It’s an ode to my sensitivity, my inner child and my intense ambition to move and connect with a wider audience.”

Opening the EP is title number ‘God Help Me Now’. The pleading nature of the track is reflected both in its name and the urgency of “The fear is real / tell me how to feel / God help me now”, backed by rolling stripped-back instrumentation that sits at the opposite end of the indie spectrum as energetic tracks such as ‘Boys’. An emotive cry for help, Ellur takes a deep dive into the darker side of society (“All the girls I know / who never make it home”) that opens the EP on a bleak, sombre note that explodes into The-Last-Dinner-Party-Esque soaring vocals.

‘Your Dog’ follows suit, delivering Maggie Rogers’ reminiscent vocals and delicate guitar strums that paint a soundscape drenched in heartache. Ellur explores the dynamics of her past relationships through cleverly thought-out metaphors (“You were the open window of a moving car, I was your dog”) and honest confessions (“I was the cool girl that let you shag around”).

Juxtaposing, ‘Yellow Light’ offers up more light-hearted instrumentation and a narrative to match. “Blame it on my Northern blood” she professes atop upbeat percussive notes in the Sam Fender influences cut.

The final offering, ‘Mourning Song’ is a four-minute delicate track where dreamy vocals dominate and harks back the sorrow found awash in ‘Satellites’. Ellur wears her heart on her sleeve and pours her soul out into emotive lyrics and overt vulnerability.

God Help Me Now is an impressive collection of tracks that perfectly demonstrates Ellur’s proficiency as both a writer and musician. Simply put, God Help Me Now is a triumph.

Words by Lana Williams

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