{{Short description|British musician (born 2000)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}} {{Use British English|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Ellur | image = Ellur Lazydays Festival July 2025 1.jpg | caption = Ellur performing in 2025 | birth_name = Ella Megan McNamara<!--see ref in prose--> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|11|25|df=y}}<!--see ref in prose--> | birth_place = Halifax, West Yorkshire, England | instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar|piano}} | genre = {{hlist|Indie pop|pop}}<!--Genres are sourced under the section #Musical style and influences--> | occupation = Singer-songwriter | years_active = 2020–present | label = Dance to the Radio | website = {{URL|ellur.biz}} }} '''Ella Megan McNamara''' (born 25 November 2000<ref>{{Cite tweet|user=ellurmusic|number=1728352763099172906|title=23! 23!|date=25 November 2023|access-date=2 June 2026}}</ref>), known professionally as '''Ellur''', is a British singer-songwriter from Halifax, England. She is the daughter of Embrace guitarist Richard McNamara.
==Life and career== Ella Megan McNamara<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/930403519 |title=AT HOME IN MY MIND |website=ASCAP.com |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=27 January 2026}}</ref> was born on 25 November 2000 and grew up in Halifax, West Yorkshire. Her stage name is a pronunciation spelling of her given name based on the Yorkshire accent.<ref name="diy">{{cite web |url=https://diymag.com/interview/get-to-know-ellur |title=Get To Know… Ellur |author=Daisy Carter |website=diymag.com |publisher=DIY |date=15 January 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260119155212/https://diymag.com/interview/get-to-know-ellur |archive-date=19 January 2026 |access-date=27 January 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="line2025">{{cite web |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/interviews/the-inevitable-becoming-of-ellur |title=The inevitable becoming of Ellur |author=Maya Fettes |website=thelineofbestfit.com |publisher=The Line of Best Fit |date=26 November 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251129130620/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/interviews/the-inevitable-becoming-of-ellur |archive-date=29 November 2025 |access-date=27 January 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref> Her father is Richard McNamara, one of the co-founders of the rock band Embrace along with his brother Danny.<ref name="nme">{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/features/music-interviews/ellur-at-home-in-my-mind-interview-radar-3921117 |title=Ellur's indie-pop gold seeks out inner peace: "Life's been this thing that I've struggled through, but music's always helped me out of it" |author=Rishi Shah |website=NME.com |publisher=NME |date=7 January 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260107113911/https://www.nme.com/features/music-interviews/ellur-at-home-in-my-mind-interview-radar-3921117 |archive-date=7 January 2026 |accessdate=27 January 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref> Her mother worked as an art teacher, and McNamara has described wanting to become both a musician and a teacher while growing up.<ref name="line2025"/> Her parents are divorced,<ref name="nme"/> something which has influenced her music, in particular her 2025 single "The World Is Not An Oyster".<ref name="clash-oyster">{{cite web |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/ellur-returns-with-indie-jewel-the-world-is-not-an-oyster/ |title=Ellur Returns With Indie Jewel 'The World Is Not An Oyster' |author=Robin Murray |website=clashmusic.com |publisher=Clash |date=4 November 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251105041333/https://www.clashmusic.com/news/ellur-returns-with-indie-jewel-the-world-is-not-an-oyster/ |archive-date=5 November 2025 |access-date=27 January 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref> She is bisexual.<ref>{{Cite Instagram|user=ellurmusic|postid= DZEvceguALk|date=2 June 2026|title=Happy Pride Month! :) Guys, I’m bi!!!|access-date=2 June 2026}}</ref>
Before embarking on a full-time career in music McNamara worked various jobs, including as a barista and a gardener,<ref name="nme"/> while playing covers sets in pubs on weekends.<ref name="clash-missing">{{cite web |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/features/missing-kid-clash-meets-ellur/ |title=Missing Kid: CLASH Meets Ellur |author=Phil Taylor |website=clashmusic.com |publisher=Clash |date=17 November 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260127210914/https://www.clashmusic.com/features/missing-kid-clash-meets-ellur/ |archive-date=27 January 2026 |access-date=27 January 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref> Her first single, "Reflection", was uploaded to streaming services in January 2020.<ref name="bbc2026">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg1z3jy53go |title=BBC Introducing: Yorkshire's ones to watch in 2026 |author=Emily Pilbeam |website=bbc.co.uk |publisher=BBC |date=4 January 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104124001/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg1z3jy53go |archive-date=4 January 2026 |access-date=27 January 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref> In August of the following year she released her debut EP, ''Moments'', through Leeds-based independent record label Dance to the Radio.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thelowdown.online/post/ellur-moments |title=Ellur {{!}} Moments |website=thelowdown.online |publisher=The Lowdown |date=26 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127033015/https://www.thelowdown.online/post/ellur-moments |archive-date=27 November 2021 |access-date=27 January 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref>
Ellur has undertaken two UK tours as a headline act; a three-date tour in 2024,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.inyourearsmusic.com/interview-with-ellur/ |title=Interview with Ellur |author=Dan Hughes |website=inyourearsmusic.com |publisher=In Your Ears Music |date=19 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241006075027/https://www.inyourearsmusic.com/interview-with-ellur/ |archive-date=6 October 2024 |access-date=28 January 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref> and a sold-out six-date tour the following year.<ref name="clash-oyster"/> She has also appeared as a support act for established bands such as Kaiser Chiefs, Blossoms and Supergrass.<ref name="bbc2026"/> In August 2024, she and her band played a set on the BBC Music Introducing stage at Leeds Festival.<ref name="bbc2024">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3d9n4md47xo |title='I burst into tears': 25 years of Leeds Festival |author=Christian Brooks |website=bbc.co.uk |publisher=BBC |date=24 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240825133813/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3d9n4md47xo |archive-date=25 August 2024 |access-date=27 January 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref> She has since gone on to play other large festivals including Latitude and South by Southwest,<ref name="bbc2026"/> the latter of which was her first performance in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dancetotheradio.com/blogs/news/ellur-announced-for-sxsw-2025 |title=Ellur announced for SXSW |website=dancetotheradio.com |publisher=Dance to the Radio |date=9 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250211042635/https://www.dancetotheradio.com/blogs/news/ellur-announced-for-sxsw-2025 |archive-date=11 February 2025 |access-date=27 January 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref>
Her first studio album, ''At Home In My Mind'', was released on 6 February 2026,<ref name="diy"/> and reached number 41 on the UK Albums Chart.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/ellur-at-home-in-my-mind/ |title=AT HOME IN MY MIND – ELLUR |website=officialcharts.com |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=15 February 2026}}</ref>
==Musical style and influences== Ellur's musical style has been described as indie,<ref name="clash-oyster"/> pop,<ref name="bbc2026"/> and indie pop.<ref name="line2022">{{cite web |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/tracks/ellur-now-im-alone |title=Ellur is emotionally charged in new single "Now I'm Alone" |author=Orla Foster |website=thelineofbestfit.com |publisher=The Line of Best Fit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109124255/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/tracks/ellur-now-im-alone |archive-date=9 November 2022 |access-date=27 January 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref> Her music has been likened to that of her contemporaries such as Holly Humberstone and Nieve Ella by ''NME'',<ref name="nme"/> while ''Dork'' made comparisons to Sharon Van Etten and Wolf Alice.<ref name="dork">{{cite web |url=https://readdork.com/features/ellurs-new-ep-is-a-journey-of-self-discovery-and-glorious-ambition/ |title=Ellur's new EP is a journey of self-discovery and glorious ambition |author=Stephen Ackroyd |website=readdork.com |publisher=Dork |date=16 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250312181304/https://readdork.com/features/ellurs-new-ep-is-a-journey-of-self-discovery-and-glorious-ambition/ |archive-date=12 March 2025 |access-date=27 January 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref> She has named a wide range of artists and bands amongst her influences, including Adele,<ref name="clash-missing"/> Coldplay, Radiohead, Embrace,<ref name="clash-oyster"/> Adrianne Lenker, CMAT, The War on Drugs, Sam Fender, The 1975 and Dora Jar;<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/artist-ellur-spins-new-single-ahead-of-autumn-tour-5301038 |title=Artist Ellur spins new single ahead of autumn tour |author=Kiera Furness |website=yorkshirepost.co.uk |publisher=The Yorkshire Post |date=3 September 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250908062547/https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/artist-ellur-spins-new-single-ahead-of-autumn-tour-5301038 |archive-date=8 September 2025 |access-date=28 January 2026 |url-status=live}}</ref> this diverse array of inspirations led to ''The Line of Best Fit'' describing her music as "collagic".<ref name="line2025"/> She has also credited the "space and serenity"<ref name="diy"/> of her Yorkshire home and her co-songwriters such as Joel Johnston and Benjamin Francis Leftwich with helping to develop her style.<ref name="line2025"/><ref name="clash-oyster"/>
==Discography==
===Studio albums=== * ''At Home in My Mind'' (2026)
===Extended plays=== * ''Moments'' (2021) * ''God Help Me Now'' (2025)
===Singles=== {{col-begin}} {{col-break}} * "Reflection" (2020) * "Alive" (2020) * "I Don't Know What We Are" (2020) * "Monochrome" (2020) * "Burn It All Down" (2021) * "Migraine" (2021) * "Close to You" (2022) * "Best Face On" (2022) * "Now I'm Alone" (2022) * "Anywhere" (2023) * "Free" (2023) {{col-break}} * "The Woman" (2023) * "Satellites" (2024) * "Boys" (2024) * "Your Dog" (2024) * "Yellow Light" (2024) * "Missing Kid" (2025) * "The Wheel" (2025) * "Disintegrate" (2025) * "The World Is Not An Oyster" (2025) * "Dream of Mine" (2026) {{col-end}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://ellur.biz Official website]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ellur}} Category:2000 births Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Halifax, West Yorkshire Category:21st-century English women singers Category:English women guitarists