HMV EMPIRE COVENTRY SHOW: SUNDAY 14th SEPTEMBER 2025, DOORS 7PM

Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s career has spanned nearly three decades and a forthcoming eighth studio album, Perimenopop, set for release on 12 September 2025 under Decca Records. From her indie rock roots with Theaudience in the late 1990s to her global dance-pop hits like “Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love)” and “Murder on the Dancefloor,” Ellis-Bextor has continually evolved, blending mainstream pop, disco, nu-disco, and 1980s electronic influences. Her recent resurgence, driven by the 2023 film Saltburn featuring “Murder on the Dancefloor,” has propelled her to new heights, with record-breaking streams and her first US chart entry. Alongside her musical achievements, her diverse ventures—from charity work to television appearances and a podcast.

Early Beginnings and The Audience: Laying the Foundation

Born on 10 April 1979 in Hounslow, London, Sophie Michelle Ellis-Bextor grew up in a creative household, with her mother, a presenter on BBC’s Blue Peter and Jigsaw, and her father, a film producer and director. Her parents’ separation when she was four shaped her early independence, and occasional appearances on Blue Peter alongside her mother sparked her public presence. Educated at St Stephen’s School in Twickenham and Godolphin and Latymer School in Hammersmith, she performed with W11 Opera at age 13, later becoming a patron of the children’s opera organisation. Reflecting on her youth, she noted, “I didn’t see myself as a good-looking girl and that was good, because I didn’t rely on it. I’ve now found lots of like-minded weirdos, so it’s OK,” highlighting her grounded perspective.

Her professional career began in 1996 as the lead vocalist of indie rock band Theaudience. The band released four singles, including UK Top 40 hits “I Know Enough (I Don’t Get Enough)” and “A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed,” and a self-titled album in 1998. Despite critical acclaim, including a Melody Maker poll ranking her among the “most sexy people in rock,” Theaudience disbanded in 1999 after Mercury Records rejected their second album demos. This setback paved the way for her solo career, marked by a duet with Manic Street Preachers and an appearance on Departure Lounge’s Out of Here in 1999.

Solo Breakthrough: Dance-Pop Stardom

In 2000, Ellis-Bextor’s collaboration with Italian DJ Spiller on “Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love)” catapulted her to fame, hitting number one in the UK and becoming the millennium’s biggest-selling vinyl single in 2015. The track’s success, earning awards like Best Single and Best Ibiza Tune at the Ericsson Muzik Awards, established her as a dance-pop icon. Her debut album, Read My Lips (2001), peaked at number two on the UK Albums Chart, certified double platinum with 1.5 million global sales. Singles like “Take Me Home” (number two), “Murder on the Dancefloor” (number two, Europe’s most-played song of 2002), and “Get Over You / Move This Mountain” (number three) solidified her chart dominance. Nominated for three consecutive BRIT Awards for British Female Solo Artist, she won a Recording Artist Award in 2002.

Her second album, Shoot from the Hip (2003), reached number 19, with top-ten singles “Mixed Up World” and “I Won’t Change You.” Described as “more emotionally direct” with disco, indie, and rock elements, it marked a shift to a live sound, though promotion was scaled back due to her pregnancy. Her third album, Trip the Light Fantastic (2007), peaked at number seven, with “Catch You” reaching the top ten. Supporting tours with George Michael and Take That showcased her live prowess, though a planned UK tour was postponed and never rescheduled. Her fourth album, Make a Scene (2011), released under her own label EBGBs after leaving Universal, embraced a dance-heavy sound, with “Bittersweet” hitting the UK top 40. Collaborations with Freemasons, Armin van Buuren, and Junior Caldera further expanded her dance music influence.

Reinvention and Resurgence: Folk, Latin, and Saltburn

From 2014, Ellis-Bextor’s trilogy of albums with producer Ed Harcourt marked a creative pivot. Wanderlust (2014), a folk-influenced record, hit number four on the UK Albums Chart and number one on the UK Independent Albums Chart, with “Young Blood” reaching the UK Indie top three. Familia (2016), inspired by Latin and North American influences, peaked at number 12, while Hana (2023), drawing from a pre-pandemic Japan trip, reflected themes of optimism and adventure. Her 2019 orchestral greatest hits album, The Song Diaries, reimagined tracks like “Love Is You” and peaked at number 14. During the 2020 UK lockdown, her “Kitchen Disco” livestreams and Songs from the Kitchen Disco album, featuring the single “Crying at the Discoteque,” kept her connected with fans, culminating in a 2022 live album from the London Palladium.

The 2023 film Saltburn brought “Murder on the Dancefloor” back to prominence, achieving a new UK peak of number two, a US chart entry at number 51, and over 1.4 million Spotify streams on New Year’s Eve 2023. This resurgence fueled her busiest performance year in 2024, with 110 shows, including Valley Fest and her first North American headlining tours.