Lindsay Ell is a bit of a literal anomaly in Nashville. Think about it. How many female artists can you name who can walk onto a stage, sing a Top 10 hit with perfect vocal clarity, and then immediately pivot into a three-minute, blues-infused guitar solo that would make John Mayer sweat? Not many. Honestly, probably just her. While the radio landscape is often crowded with "boyfriend country" or overly polished pop-country hybrids, songs by Lindsay Ell have always occupied a slightly different, more muscular space. She’s a Julliard-level talent trapped in a genre that sometimes prioritizes the hook over the handiwork.
She didn't just wake up one day and decide to play. She was a prodigy. Discovered by Randy Bachman—yes, the "American Woman" and "Takin' Care of Business" Randy Bachman—at only 15 years old, she was raised on a diet of jazz, blues, and rock. That DNA is baked into every track she releases. If you listen closely to her discography, you aren't just hearing country music; you’re hearing a masterclass in how to bridge the gap between technical proficiency and emotional vulnerability.
The Turning Point of The Project
For a long time, the industry didn't quite know what to do with her. She was "too rock" for some and "too polished" for others. Then came The Project. Released in 2017, this album was essentially her introduction to the world as a fully realized artist. Produced by Kristian Bush of Sugarland, the record was a massive gamble. Bush reportedly made her record the entire thing in a way that felt raw, almost demanding she stop overthinking the technical side and just feel it.
"Waiting on You" was the standout. It’s a slow-burn track. It builds. It breathes. You can hear the influence of her blues background in the way she phrasing her guitar licks around the lyrics. It’s not just a song about longing; it’s a song about the tension of the "in-between" moments in a relationship.
People often forget that Ell actually re-recorded the entirety of John Mayer’s Continuum album as a creative exercise before finishing her own record. That’s the level of obsession we’re talking about here. She didn’t do it for a release; she did it to understand the architecture of a perfect guitar-pop record. When you listen to songs like "Champagne," you can hear those Mayer-esque syncopated rhythms and clean, "strat-ty" tones. It’s sophisticated stuff that usually goes over the head of casual listeners who are just looking for a song about a truck.
Why "Criminal" Changed Everything
Then came "Criminal." This was the one. It became her first #1 hit in Canada and cracked the Top 20 in the U.S. It’s catchy, sure. But look at the structure. The guitar riff is the hook. In an era where most country songs rely on a programmed snap-track or a generic acoustic strum, Ell let the electric guitar lead the way.
It’s a song about a love so good it feels illegal. Standard trope? Maybe. But her delivery makes it feel desperate and urgent. The success of "Criminal" proved that there was an audience for a female lead guitarist in country music—something that hadn't really been seen since the heyday of Bonnie Raitt or maybe some of the more rock-leaning tracks from the Dixie Chicks.
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Heartbreak and the Concept of "heart theory"
If The Project was about finding her sound, heart theory (released in 2020) was about finding her soul. It’s a concept album. She structured it around the seven stages of grief: shock, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, testing, and acceptance.
It’s heavy.
"make you" is perhaps the most important song she has ever written. In it, she opens up about her personal experiences with sexual assault. It’s a devastatingly quiet track. No flashy solos here. Just a raw, shaking vocal and a message that pain doesn't have to define you, but it does change you. This is where Ell moved from being a "guitar player who sings" to a "storyteller who uses a guitar."
- Shock: "Hits me"
- Anger: "Want me back"
- Acceptance: "Ready to love"
The record is a journey. It’s meant to be heard from start to finish. In a world of "singles only" consumption, heart theory was a defiant stand for the "album" as an art form. You can feel the influence of Sheryl Crow all over this record—that blend of organic instrumentation and unapologetic female perspective.
The Power of Collaboration
Lindsay Ell is also a bit of a "musician’s musician." Everyone wants to play with her. Her duet with Brantley Gilbert, "What Happens in a Small Town," was a massive multi-week #1. On paper, it’s a weird pairing. Gilbert is the "tough guy" of country-rock; Ell is the precise, soulful virtuoso. But it worked because she grounded his grit with a soaring, melodic counterpoint.
She’s also collaborated with Keith Urban, and seeing the two of them trade solos on stage is basically a religious experience for gear-heads. Urban is one of the few other artists in the genre who operates on her technical level. When they play together, it’s not a competition; it’s a conversation.
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What People Get Wrong About Lindsay Ell
There’s this misconception that because she’s a "shredder," her music lacks heart. That’s nonsense. Actually, it’s the opposite. The guitar is her second voice. When words fail, she uses a bend or a slide to finish the thought.
Another weird myth? That she’s strictly a country artist. If you go to a live show, you’ll hear shades of Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and even some funk. She covers "Bohemian Rhapsody" and nails the Brian May solo note-for-note while singing the lead. She’s a rock star who happens to live in Nashville.
The Evolution of the Live Show
If you really want to understand songs by Lindsay Ell, you have to see them live. On the record, the solos are often edited down for radio play. Live? She lets the leash off. She uses a dizzying array of pedals—her pedalboard is a work of art in itself—to create soundscapes that you just don't hear on a standard country tour.
She often performs solo with a looper pedal. This is high-wire act stuff. If you mess up the timing by a millisecond, the whole song falls apart. She builds the percussion by tapping on the body of the guitar, layers in a rhythm part, adds a bass line using an octave pedal, and then sings over the top. It’s a one-woman symphony.
Actionable Insights for the Casual Listener
If you’re just getting into Lindsay Ell, don’t just hit "shuffle" on a random playlist. You’ll miss the nuance. Start with The Project to see the foundation, then move into heart theory to understand the depth.
What to look for in her playing:
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- Hybrid Picking: Watch her right hand. She uses a pick and her fingers simultaneously. This allows her to play those complex, piano-like chords that give her music its unique texture.
- The "Tone": She’s a fan of Fender Stratocasters and Teles. She likes that "quack" and bite. It cuts through the mix without being muddy.
- Vocal Control: Notice how she matches her vocal runs to her guitar licks. It’s a technique called "scatting," often used in jazz, but she brings it into a pop-country context perfectly.
Essential tracks to add to your library immediately:
- "Right On Time" - For the modern, upbeat vibe.
- "Wildfire" - For the absolute fire of a guitar solo at the end.
- "I Don't Love You" - For the pure, gut-wrenching vocal performance.
Lindsay Ell is currently in a phase of her career where she’s taking more risks than ever. She’s hosting Canada’s Got Talent, she’s touring globally, and she’s constantly pushing the boundaries of what a "female country star" is allowed to be. She isn't just playing the game; she’s rewriting the rules of the game with every riff she writes.
To truly appreciate her work, stop thinking of her as a country singer. Start thinking of her as one of the premier guitarists of her generation, who just happens to have a Nashville zip code. The more you listen, the more you realize that the flashy solos aren't a gimmick—they're the pulse of the music.
Next Steps for the Ell Super-fan:
- Track Down the "Continental" Sessions: Seek out her live acoustic performances on YouTube where she breaks down the stories behind heart theory. The context changes how you hear the lyrics.
- Analyze the Gear: If you’re a musician, look up her "Rig Rundown" videos. Understanding her signal chain explains how she gets those specific, ethereal tones on tracks like "Space."
- Follow the International Releases: Ell often releases different versions of songs or unique collaborations for the UK and Australian markets that don't always get top billing on U.S. Spotify charts.
The evolution of her sound isn't finished. With every new single, she strips away another layer of "Nashville polish" to reveal the grit underneath. That's the hallmark of an artist who is going to be around for decades, rather than just a few radio cycles.