Ella Cowley Reclaims Her Confidence on Bold New Pop Single “Clever Girl”

Manchester-based pop artist Ella Cowley is turning relationship drama into a confident pop statement with her latest single, “Clever Girl.” Combining powerhouse vocals, sharp songwriting, and a playful sense of humor, Ella Cowley delivers an empowering anthem about recognizing deception, reclaiming your dignity, and remembering your worth.

Drawing inspiration from classic pop and 90s glamour, Ella Cowley has developed a sound that balances nostalgic influences with a distinctly modern British attitude. Following her 2026 comeback single “Tell Them,” which received support from BBC Radio Introducing alongside UK and US airplay, “Clever Girl” introduces another exciting chapter in her growing career.

At its heart, the single explores the frustrating realization that someone you trusted wasn't entirely honest. Rather than dwelling on heartbreak, Ella Cowley approaches the experience with wit, confidence, and a few cheeky remarks, reminding listeners that even the smartest people can find themselves in complicated relationships.

With live performances planned for late 2026 and into 2027, alongside her first-ever Christmas single inspired by a Dolly Parton favorite, Ella Cowley has plenty more on the horizon.

We caught up with Ella Cowley to discuss the inspiration behind “Clever Girl,” how she finds humor in heartbreak, and what's coming next.

“Clever Girl” turns a frustrating relationship experience into something playful and empowering. Was it hard to find the humor in that situation, or did the cheeky lyrics come naturally?

I think it’s actually harder for me to be sad or serious than it is to make things a little sarcastic or find the funny side of a situation. I’m someone who feels everything very deeply in the moment, but then I can look back on things and laugh at myself or the situation. I think humour is just probably how I naturally process things, and there’s something sweet about being able to laugh at a situation that once upset you. Sometimes, I have to just step back and think, “Well, that was ridiculous!” and write about it.

Your music draws inspiration from classic pop and 90s glamour. Which artists or eras have had the biggest influence on your sound and creative identity?

Oooo, I love this question! My mum was the biggest Whitney Houston fan, so growing up, that’s pretty much all we would listen to. My favourite film was, and probably still is, The Bodyguard, and I still watch it over and over again. Songs like “Queen of the Night,” “I’m Every Woman” and “Saving All My Love for You”… God, I could honestly sit here and list them all!

Another early influence for me was actually Justin Bieber. I always find myself going back to his first album. It’s just so good, he's incredible and I think those early influences definitely played a part in shaping my love for pop music that also has other influences like R&B.

And finally, I don’t think I could answer this question without mentioning Ariana Grande.

Anyone who knows me knows that she’s my girl. Her music has inspired me in so many ways, and every album always inspires something different in me creatively. Her harmonies are insane, and her choices with ad-libs are just unmatched. There’s genuinely just nobody like her. I think I’ve always been drawn to artists who have incredible vocals but also know how to put on a show, those are definitely the kinds of artists who inspire me most.

Following the support you received for “Tell Them,” how has your confidence evolved as an artist, and what does “Clever Girl” represent for this next chapter?

I’m finding it easier with every release to own my music a little more and be confident in where it’s at, rather than feeling the need to explain to anyone who asks me about it that “it’s not perfect, but…” I think I’ve spent a lot of time feeling like I need to justify myself or apologise for where I’m at as an artist, and I’m learning that I actually don’t need to do that.

As an independent artist, even releasing one song takes so much time, energy and investment, and I don’t think people always realise just how much goes into it behind the scenes. I’m a perfectionist, so I’m constantly battling with myself over whether something is good enough or whether I could do more with a song. Sometimes, you just have to let go. I saw a quote that I constantly repeat to myself: “Make it now, make it good later.” It really helps me get out of my own way and just get on with making music.

The reality is that, as an independent artist, you don’t always have the budget for expensive mixing and mastering or unlimited hours in a studio. I’m learning to work with what I have, make things as good as I possibly can with the resources available to me, and actually enjoy the process rather than constantly picking everything apart.

I think that’s what this next chapter represents for me. With Clever Girl, I’m allowing myself to have a bit more fun, trust my instincts and not take everything so seriously because it's not serious. I want to keep growing and improving with every release, but I also want to enjoy what I'm doing right now rather than constantly worrying about where I think I should be. I’m proud of what I’m putting out, and I think learning to own that is a big part of it.

You're preparing to bring your music to the stage in late 2026 and into 2027. What can fans expect from an Ella Cowley live performance?

I really hope people come along and just have a fun time! There’ll be lots of diamantes, glitz and glam, and hopefully some moments where people can get involved rather than just stand and watch me sing. I want to create a pop-girl experience where people can have a dance, sing along and leave feeling like they’ve had a really good night.

Obviously, as an independent artist, I’m still building everything from the ground up, so I can’t promise a million costume changes and a full team of dancers just yet (although, I would love that). For now, I’m just really excited to bring these songs to life, experiment with live arrangements and start building a show that feels fun and like me. I hope people who are supporting me now feel like they’re part of something from the very beginning, and hopefully as things grow, the shows will grow with them and get better and better.

You're also releasing your first Christmas single, inspired by a Dolly Parton favourite. What made you choose that particular song, and what can listeners expect from your interpretation?

I’m honestly so excited! I’ve always wanted to release a Christmas song, and this actually came around very last minute. I think we started recording it at the beginning of October, so it’s been a very quick turnaround for me!

I won’t spoil too much just yet, but I was drawn to this Dolly song because I think it just captures that very specific feeling of a melancholy Christmas so perfectly. I think everyone, at some point in their life, can relate to dreading the build-up to Christmas. Everyone around you is happy, going out drinking or spending time with their loved ones, and you know that might not be your reality that year. It’s a horrible feeling, but there’s also something quite strange about it because everyone else’s excitement can be infectious. You end up feeling happy and sad at the same time, and I think that’s such an interesting emotion to capture in a song.

With my version, I really wanted to play on the contrast. The verses are quite mellow, but the chorus is a little more upbeat, and I think that helps capture that feeling of trying to be happy even when things aren’t necessarily perfect behind the scenes.

I also had the absolute pleasure of bringing my old hometown choir into the studio to record on the song, which was SO much fun. I’m really grateful to have such lovely people around me who were willing to take time out of their day to learn the harmony parts, travel to the studio and spend a few hours singing with me. It made the whole experience really special, and I can’t wait for everyone to hear what we’ve put together!