“All This to Say I Love You”: Elliot James Reay’s Debut EP is a Collection of Vintage Love Letters
- Hope Morgan
- Jun 25
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 30
By: Hope Morgan
Manchester born Elliot James Reay is bringing the classic love songs of the 50s and 60s to today’s generation, and was lucky enough to join °1824 to chat with Elliot about his upcoming debut EP “All This to Say I Love You.”
To begin, I got to hear a sneak peak of “Sweetness,” an currently unreleased track from the EP. True to Elliot’s vintage style, the track is a gentle love song with a rhythm that sways like a waltz. I can see it being played as a first dance at a wedding, or soundtracking a rom-com.
Elliot seemed very excited for people to hear “Sweetness” and commented that “This one has been a favourite behind the scenes, this was a very natural song, there was no struggling with writing this song, it was very, sweet!”
The upcoming EP is a collection of six love songs directly inspired by his own relationship, which sparked during the COVID-19 pandemic and left him longing to experience old school love.
Elliot smiled shyly when talking about his girlfriend, reflecting on how much she inspires and encourages his music.
“She's really good at egging me on and asking me to give more.”
His partner’s parents' love for northern soul dancing, inspired Elliot to create music people could dance to, especially his most recent single “Who Knew Dancing Was a Sin,” which features a driving kick and snare, making the song impossible not to dance to.
Elliot earnestly explained that he thinks different people will interpret the EP differently, and that’s okay.
“I want to take people on a journey and try and show them from start to finish that, you know, love doesn't have to be this, it doesn't have to be that, everyone experiences it differently.”
“I Think They Call This Love,” a single from the EP recently grew in popularity on TikTok, with many people mistaking it for the cover of an Elvis Presley song. While Elliot said he’s not Elvis, he is flattered by the comparison and thinks it reflects a modern appetite for vintage-inspired music, especially among young people.
“A lot of music out there that we listen to that you don't realise is actually a sample of something from that era, and that's what the music of that era does to people, it can really bring back joy, and that’s real music in my eyes.”
Staying loyal to his vintage sound, Elliot explains that his music “is written entirely as it should have been back then.” but he uses language more relevant to today. He also said that today's recording equipment greatly modernises the sound of his tracks.
When recording songs Elliot said he tries to tap into the feeling of performing on stage to really create a feeling of genuine emotion in the recorded tracks.
“I try and tap into being on stage and try and put myself on a stage. That's when I give the most.”
Following the EP’s release, Elliot said he is looking forward to his first-ever tour:
“I want it to be something you can only experience this time around, the next tour will be different,” he shared.
Elliot James Reay may be inspired by the past, but with his magnetic charm and honest songwriting, he’s carving out a future as one of the most exciting voices in modern retro-pop.
“All This to Say I Love You” releases June 27th. You can follow Elliot on Instagram, TikTok and Spotify to keep up with new music and upcoming tour dates.
