We had a chat with James Ellis of The Earth & All Within to find out a bit more about the project and their brand new debut album
Armed with a heavy and nuanced alternative sound that draws influence from some of the biggest names in contemporary rock while having a distinctive and expansive appeal that is packed full of personality, Philadelphia-based singer-songwriter James Ellis’ project The Earth & All Within is an engrossing showcase of the artist’s ambition and scope as a songwriter and performer.
The project’s brand new self-titled debut album is a rousing showcase of this appeal, with a range of styles across the rock and pop spectrum explored in what is being dubbed a “millennial rock opera”, bringing with it an urgency and sense of vibrancy that is afforded an even grander sense of scale by the inclusion of the the Philadelphia String Quartet. We love this new collection of tracks, and had a chat with James to find out a bit more about the project, the album and how it all came to life.
Who TF are The Earth & All Within?
An easier question to start with is What TF is The Earth & All Within and that’s a rock band with a string section. It’s an idea, a concept to find out what can happen when you take rock and classical influences and filter them through a Millennial who grew up on Green Day, My Chemical Romance, and John Williams soundtracks. Taken literally, The Earth & All Within is exactly what it sounds like, it’s all of us living on this planet, together, trying to connect and find our way through whatever TF is happening right now. Who am I? For all intents and purposes, a nobody.
How long have you been making music?
Since 2004. I was inspired to pick up the guitar and write my own songs after seeing Green Day’s American Idiot music video on MTV one morning before school. I started playing in bands seriously during college and was lucky enough to get to the national touring level right before the pandemic shut everything down and that band parted ways. This album was really the first time I wrote anything strictly for myself without any guardrails or collaboration.
Why do you make music?
On the whole, I want to be accepted and music has always been the space that I’ve felt that the most. Why did I make this music? It started as an act of therapy after a particularly difficult breakup and identity crisis. Who was I, who do I want to be? Once I found the idea of making orchestral strings the unifying factor between these songs that are pretty distinct genre-wise, it became more of a, “man, I really want to hear what that band sounds like” incentive for myself to follow through with the project.
What are your biggest influences?
My holy trinity are Billie Joe Armstrong, Simon Neil of Biffy Clyro, and Glen Hansard. Those three musicians have definitely had the most impact on how I approach guitar playing and songwriting with Green Day’s punk ethos, Biffy Clyro’s grandeur and experimentation, and Glen’s lyrical storytelling as seen in the movie Once and with his band The Frames.
What would you say has been your best moment so far?
Being in the studio with The Philadelphia String Quartet watching them play my compositions was definitely a highlight. It was the first time any of it felt real and they were so talented and professional, knocking out the entire album in a matter of about 4 hours. I felt very blessed to have them work with me.
How would you describe your sound to somebody unfamiliar with it?
American Idiot meets John Williams. I would certainly never put myself up on that pedestal but that’s the musical DNA of this project.
What’s your dream “I’ve made it” moment?
The dream moment for me is going to be the first time that a room full of people sing the final set of “no we are”s of the album closer & All Within back at me. There’s a long road ahead to get there but after everything I’ve been through, I fully expect to bawl my eyes out when it happens.
We love your new album The Earth and All Within, what more can you tell us about it?
I appreciate that! I think the thing I want to get across is that there’s more going on under the hood of this record than meets the ears. I’ve become increasingly interested in Carl Jung’s philosophy on the collective unconscious and it feels like melding rock and classical elements is something that’s coming to the surface right now. Last year we saw The Last Dinner Party do it, Yvette Young did a guitar series with a group of string players, and even Parkway Drive recently performed live with an orchestra. It feels like a wave that’s about to hit as audiences are seeking something fresh, nostalgic, and authentic.
What else do you have planned for the near future?
I have a handful of ideas that I want to explore aside from getting the live band up and running. I’m thinking the next release will probably be an EP keeping to the same vibe as this record but eventually I want to expand the sound and introduce horns into the arrangements. I’m currently working on a film script that sits somewhere between School of Rock and Everything, Everywhere, All at Once as a sort of post-mortem on the entire experience and I have a story outline for a jukebox musical stage production that I want to eventually write.
And finally, who is your biggest fan right now?
My friend Emily. We had actually dated in high school and happened to spark up a friendship again last summer after years of not being in each other’s lives. She’s able to see the vision of this project and has more faith in me that I can make all of this a reality than I do myself. I’m really lucky to have her back in my corner.
