Glad Rags: Ellie Bleach on Characterising Her On Stage Style

Get your glad rags on gang! Glad Rags is a column where we chat to some of our favourite musicians about their best garms. This week we're joined by Ellie Bleach, the London based singer songwriter who doesn’t shy away from dramatics.

How important is clothing to you for a stage presence?

Costume definitely helps me get into character. A lot of my music is about world building and I try to make all elements of my live performance contribute to that. A lot of my songs are narrated by a persona: ‘Tupperware Party’ is from the perspective of an 80s wall street yuppie, ‘Precious Feelings’ is narrated by a love-struck cruise ship singer. I like to think all my characters exist in the not-too-distant past, like a memory of a decade. So I try to emulate this feeling in my costume - definitely retro silhouettes and vintage pieces but not too much of a time-warp.

Do you have a different style on stage compared to off stage?

As a rule, I don’t really wear anything on stage that I wouldn’t wear off-stage (or at least to a party). That being said, my style off stage is a lot more feminine. This is partly practical - I’ve discovered playing piano in a 60s mini skirt seems like a good idea but I end up flashing the entire front row. Real life Ellie’s is the demure, god-fearing sister of Performer Ellie.

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Do you think image is important for musicians wanting to be successful?

Of course - at this point it’s unavoidable. I sometimes find this notion depressing, especially when I think of how many artists from decades gone by have found success while not giving their appearance a second thought. But recently I’ve learned to embrace the idea of my music project being an all encompassing persona. Working with designer Eleni Papachristodoulou to create my EP cover and promotional material has been a super fun part of the EP production process, and building an ‘image’ is just another way of immersing the audience in the world of Ellie Bleach.

Who are some of your style inspirations as an artist?

Ron from Sparks, Diane Keaton, Eartha Kitt, Al Paccino in Scarface, Rosalind Russell in His Girl Friday and the films of Pedro Almodovar, John Waters and Anna Biller.

What is your favourite piece of clothing to wear on stage and why?

The brown suit I’m wearing in my recent album artwork is my fail-safe stage outfit. Looks slick with pretty much anything underneath.

What is your favourite piece of clothing to wear offstage and why?

I have a green tartan blazer with shoulder pads that my Nan gave me when I was about 14. I’ve been wearing it consistently for 10 years. It’s the most ‘me’ item of clothing I own and I’ll wear it until it’s a pile of rags like those adults that still sleep with their baby blanket.

Do you think people look down on musicians who like fashion too and if so, why?

I think there are a lot of double standards at play here. In an industry so obsessed with image, I wouldn’t say musicians are dismissed for caring about image, but there are definitely some that are hailed as creative geniuses for achieving what others have established as the bare minimum. Like… there’s a certain former boyband member turned solo artist that gets praised for his outlandish stage outfits when women, queer and POC artists have been doing this for literally decades. I also find it interesting how the industry has begun flattening a lot of alternative genres into extensions of ‘pop’ and treating artists like pop stars. Every current indie songwriter I know now feel the need to post as if they’re an influencer and curate an entire aesthetic just how whole marketing teams work on Pop artists.

How has your style evolved alongside your journey as an artist?

My style has definitely evolved from when I first started performing, just as my music has evolved too. I used to perform in boiler suits, quirky tshirts and trainers back when my early sound was a lot more ‘bedroom pop’ and teenage girl-core. I’d say my style has somewhat matured along with my sound - I’m more interested in looking timeless now.

What advice would you give someone struggling to find their image as an artist?

I think once you start viewing image and fashion as another way to add dimension to your work, rather than hoops you have to jump through to get anywhere in music, the world is your oyster. It took me a good while to work out which parts of my personal everyday style I’d like to elevate and exaggerate in my musician persona, but now I love exploring that part of my project.