In her newest cycle of rebirth and new music, dark-pop princess Ellise has come out of a relationship, dyed her hair deep brunette, and found her personal brand (and a love for wearing black). In her discography, Ellise has collaborated with a range of talent from the likes of DeathByRomy, Mothica, Savage Ga$p, Moore Kismet, and Iggy Azalea. Wracking up a heft 1.8 million Spotify listeners, Ellise has won the numbers game – and she’s ready to keep winning in 2023.

“Did It Hurt” is one of two singles that color Ellise’s new release roll-out of 2023 (her other being the previously released “Black Balloons.” Dramatic, deep bass permeates through the song, creating a sturdy foundation for Ellise’s breathy voice. The Bay-area native’s Angelic falsettos and braiding multiplications of self-harmonization contrast with strums of an acoustic guitar and the booming bass. Haunting and ethereal, “Did It Hurt” leans into negative emotions and the shadows of loss without trying to optimistically look for the light at the end of the tunnel. Ellise ruminates on her yo-yo relationship by highlighting the ups and downs in her lyrics; “And I could leave you again / But I’d be dreaming of when / I taste apologies roll off your tongue”.

Ellise writes straight from the heart, with fans constantly praising her “pen-game.” The artist elaborates; “No amount of studio time or consistency can force raw emotion because when it's there, it's just there. 'Did It Hurt' is genuinely a sonic metaphor for the full spectrum of emotions a person can go through in such a short amount of time while dealing with losing someone they love." Ellise has captured the edgy, depressive villain-era femme-pop genre, and resonates with similar fans of Nessa Barrett, Billie Eilish, and Olivia Rodrigo – femme fetales that we can’t seem to get enough of. Her moody music and emo-pop aesthetic could sync perfectly into the final season of Euphoria; she looks like a character plucked out of the show’s high school hallways.

Ellise has new music pending in the new year – so stay tuned for what’s next.

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