PaperMag.com Interview Ellie Goulding

Her sophomore album, Halcyon (named for a mythical bird who is said to calm the sea), is out this month and takes from all the worlds she's passed through on her rise. The first single, released in late August, is a glitchy, anthemic song that's halfway between a ballad and a club banger called "Anything Could Happen," and is sure to take over the Billboard slot that "Lights" has been keeping warm. "I suppose 'Lights' was successful, but it wasn't life-changing," says Goulding. "I listen back to it and I'm very proud of it, but I'm still very surprised that it did so well. I feel like I've come so far musically as an artist, being able co-produce and write everything on Halcyon. I just have more confidence in myself." This is especially evident on tracks like "Explosions," a synthy answer to Adele's heart-wrenching "Someone Like You."

Check out the full interview at PaperMag.com