Ellery Cohen is the Melbourne artist who knows how to write seriously catchy pop, so we caught up with him to find out more about who this singer-songwriter is.
Cohen may have only begun releasing pop music back in 2018, but he has already had tracks play on some of Australia and America’s most renowned mainstream radio stations.
It’s safe to say music holds a lot of meaning for Cohen, who uses music therapy in his role as a disability support worker.
It’s clear Cohen wears his heart on his sleeve when it comes to songwriting, and his latest single ‘Waiting’ is no exception.
Inspired by a trip he took just prior to enduring Melbourne’s stringent lockdown, the track was written from the perspective of a woman he met in Vietnam.
“She told me that she had left her boyfriend and her life for a year, leaving her life behind… I thought it was so interesting and I wrote a song about what she would say to her boyfriend,” he said.
“It’s a song about love and complexity of relationship and how life can be sometimes. She asks the question ‘will you be waiting?'”.
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To celebrate the recent release of ‘Waiting’, we had a chat with Ellery Cohen as part of our popular Get To Know series.
How did your artist name come about?
Ellery is my first name, Cohen is my middle name and I liked how they sounded together.
How would you describe your music to your grandma?
First, I’d be very shocked because my grandma passed 10 years ago! After the initial shock, I would tell my grandma that I’m singing songs about my life to make sense of the journey and heal as I need to.
Tell us about a few of your tracks; their titles and what they’re about?
‘Waiting’, my newest single, is about a girl I met in Vietnam who left her life, job and boyfriend behind to travel the world. I loved the concept so I wrote a song about the conversation between her and her boyfriend.
‘Read Your Mind’ is a long song about relationships and how sometimes they don’t work and what would really happen if you could read your partner’s mind.
‘Over You’ is actually the second part of ‘Read Your Mind’. It’s about finally moving forward and getting over someone and finding peace post-breakup.
What do you love about your hometown?
I grew up in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne in Australia and my favourite thing is that right down the road from my house is a chocolate factory and can often smell the sweet smell of chocolate in the air.
Career highlight so far?
The first time my song played on national commercial radio was so exciting!
Check out ‘Waiting’ by Ellery Cohen:
Fave non-music hobby?
I just recently got into surfing and I’m not the best but I’m getting better. I also really love cooking.
What’s on your dream rider?
Mac and cheese made by Gordon Ramsey and a nice glass of single malt scotch.
Dream music collaboration?
Ryan Tedder from OneRepublic please hit me back xx
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Hopefully touring the world.
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
‘Superstition’ by Stevie Wonder or ‘A Thousand Miles’ by Vanessa Carlton.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Growing up my dad would always say, “I don’t care what you want to do in life, as long as you do it to the best of your ability.” I still live by it.
What’s one obsession you have that no one would guess after listening to your music?
I’m a real sucker for romcoms. Also slightly obsessed with the TV show The Office.
Check out ‘Over You’ by Ellery Cohen:
