Ellie Goulding - Don't Panic (Coldplay cover) - V Festival 2010 21st August 2010

Early career

Signed to Polydor Records in September 2009,^[3] her debut single "Under the Sheets" was released on independent label Neon Gold Records rather than Polydor so that she would not be put under too much pressure.^[2] Premiered on BBC Radio 1 on 30 September 2009, it has since gained heavy airplay. It was released digitally in the United Kingdom on 15 November 2009^[5] and peaked at number fifty-three on the UK Singles Chart.^[6]

In October 2009 she toured the UK supporting Little Boots,^[7] and on 30 October 2009 performed "Under the Sheets" and "Guns and Horses" as a guest on Later... with Jools Holland.^[8]

She collaborated with Frankmusik on "Wish I Stayed"—which was featured as the Single of the Week on the UK iTunes Store from 22–28 December 2009^[9]—and provided vocals for the Starsmith remix of Passion Pit's "Sleepyhead".^[10]

Lights: 2009–present

Prior to the release of her debut studio album, it was announced that Goulding topped the BBC Sound of 2010 poll, which showcases the critics, broadcasters and music industry insiders' top choices for rising stars and artists for the coming year.^[11] She also won the Critics' Choice Award at the 2010 BRIT Awards which makes her the second artist to win both the poll and win the Critic's Choice award in the same year, after Adele won both awards two years previous.^[12]

Goulding's debut album, entitled Lights, was through Polydor on 1 March 2010, preceded by its second single, "Starry Eyed", which was released 22 February 2010^[13] and reached number four on the UK Singles Chart—Goulding's highest-peaking single on the chart as yet.^[6] For the majority of the album, Goulding worked with English producer Starsmith.^[14] It reached number one on the UK Albums Chart and number twelve on the Irish Albums Chart in March 2010.^[15][16] "Guns and Horses" was released as the album's third single on 17 May 2010,^[17] peaking at number twenty-six on the UK chart.^[6] Released on 9 August 2010, "The Writer" followed as the album's fourth single, reaching number nineteen in the UK.^[6]

Alongside the release of her debut album, Goulding co-wrote a song with George Astasio, Gabriella Cilmi, Jason Pebworth and Jon Shave for Cilmi's second album, Ten, titled "Love Me Cos You Want To". She also co-wrote three songs for Diana Vickers's debut album, Songs from the Tainted Cherry Tree, entitled "Remake Me + You", "Notice" and "Jumping Into Rivers" (all three co-written with Vickers and Guy Sigsworth).^[18]

Goulding is currently embarking on her Lights Tour in the United Kingdom, accompanied by support act Primary 1. She also supported John Mayer on his British tour in May 2010. She performed on June 25 at the 40th Glastonbury Festival and is expected to perform at numerous other music festivals across the United Kingdom including V Festival 2010 and Bestival.