Fresh off the release of her debut album, “PRETTY EVIL,” a dark pop confessional woven with raw emotion, unfiltered storytelling, and powerhouse collaborations, Ellise has officially stepped into a new chapter of her career: her first headlining tour.
After years of sharpening her craft on the road as a supporting act, she’s now bringing her vision to life with a live experience that transforms sleek production and moody sonics into something heavier, louder, and deeply cathartic.
From fans dressing up and screaming lyrics to the artist herself finding healing and empowerment in every performance, The PRETTY EVIL Tour is proof of Ellise’s growth, resilience, and undeniable connection with her audience.
In our interview, she pulls back the curtain on what it takes to step into the spotlight as a headliner, the creative fire behind “PRETTY EVIL,” and the connection that keeps her pushing boundaries on and off stage.
Congratulations on your debut headlining tour! How does it feel to finally bring “The PRETTY EVIL Tour” to life after releasing the album?
Thank you! It’s truly been such an incredible experience doing my first headliner. I began touring pretty late in my career, so the last two years of touring as an opener felt like I was earning my stripes in order to do this tour. I felt so prepared and also so happy that PRETTY EVIL is the album I get to perform on my debut headliner. This music is my proudest work so far, so getting to sing it with rooms full of people who have listened to it and related to it is just crazy. I sat awake in my bunk the first few nights and couldn’t believe that people were showing up, and not just showing up, but dressing up, screaming the lyrics, crying during the sad songs, and overall just enjoying the music wholeheartedly. It’s been a moving experience for me, for sure.
What can fans expect from the live experience? How are you translating the themes and visuals of “PRETTY EVIL” to the stage?
PRETTY EVIL is rooted in sleekness, mystery, and the art of destruction. A lot of that comes through in the styling, smudged eye and lip makeup, and flashing red lights—but what really brings the darkness to the set is how my band and I change up the set sonically. My music definitely leans more pop, but played live, it gets much heavier. I attribute that to my absolutely killer drummer and guitarist, who both come from metal/rock backgrounds. I love playing live because I get to translate the themes of my album through sound. Fans can expect heavy-hitting drums, distorted guitars, and live vocals the entire way through.
You’ve performed as a special guest for artists like Bishop Briggs, Madison Beer, and others. How have those experiences shaped your approach and prepared you for headlining your own shows?
Opening for such incredible female artists has taught me everything I know!! I’ve been able to watch Madison be a total pop princess and Bishop be a vocal powerhouse, both amazing in their own unique ways. My support tours were huge learning curves and helped me learn the ins and outs of touring. It’s a completely different portion of the music business that I was so oblivious to for so long, but thankfully, I had amazing experiences and adapted quickly. I’m super grateful to both Madison and Bishop for bringing me on the road.
Do you approach your live shows differently now that you’re the headliner compared to when you were a supporting act?
Most definitely. Being a headliner is all the pressure to put on the best show of your life, every night. I take that very seriously and want every single person who comes to see me to have a positive experience. I trained leading up to this tour in ways I’ve never trained before. I even got vocal lessons for the first time!! The pressure is high as a headliner, but the reward makes it so beyond worth it. Getting to play to rooms full of people who are there for me and my music is a feeling that can’t be described with words.
“PRETTY EVIL” has been described as a dark pop confessional. How did your personal experiences shape the album’s themes and tone?
PRETTY EVIL is really just a musical timeline through a three-year relationship I was in that ended in cheating, lies, and emotional explosions, and everything I felt during that timeline. My fans know I don’t have the greatest taste in men and tend to write songs about completely unhinged relationships, but this body of work was different. The album poured out more like diary entries and scribbled notes on bar napkins. It felt so much more raw and in the moment to make, so yes, I’d say a confessional is accurate.
Working with producers like Arthur Besna, Ella Boh, and others, how did collaboration influence the evolution of your sound?
I’ve always said the best part about this album is the people I got to make it with. Arthur is just a melodic genius, and his sensibilities and flair are what truly glued the album together to be what it is. We made ‘dead2me’ in our first session and ‘bite’ the next day, so we both knew from the beginning that we had something amazing going on. Working with him inspired me in ways I hadn’t been before and unlocked such different ideas in my brain than I had ever had before, and I think that’s the mark of a truly great producer. Ella Boh is another astronomical talent—literally one of the most creative and driven people I’ve met in LA. What’s so special about her is that her writing and production are both equally incredible, and making ‘ballerina,’ ‘leech,’ ‘valentine,’ and ‘committed for life’ with her brought the exact moods of melancholic yet violent female rage that the album needed.
Which track from the album resonates with you the most during live performances, and why?
Performing ‘valentine’ almost makes me cry every night. Not because of the content of the song, but because every night, I look out and see so many beautiful faces singing it back to me. Through touring, I’ve learned that ‘valentine’ is a song that has really connected with my fans. Hearing the room full of singing voices reciting such a personal song to me is an amazing feeling.
“leech” and “valentine” have become fan favorites. Did you anticipate these tracks making such a strong impact?
I’m so happy that ‘leech’ and ‘valentine’ are fan favorites; they’re two of my favorites to perform on tour. ‘Leech’ was such a hard song for me to write because I don’t typically write such blunt lyrics. But it felt so good. And performing it live feels like a high. You never really know what’s going to resonate with your audience, but I’m glad two of the most personal songs are hitting for people.
As your career continues to grow, what are some goals you have for the next phase of your artistry?
I’m constantly battling this internal feeling of having endless goals and looking toward the future, and being present and grateful for where I am now. I’m doing things I dreamed about doing as a little girl, and I’m simultaneously planning the next two years of my life. I hope to keep touring the world, releasing music that makes me feel creatively fulfilled, and reaching more people who feel at home with my music. My main goal is always to reflect who I truly am in my art and connect with people.
Photos/ Ben Allen
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