Formula Indie Sessions : Interview with Ellertsson
Ellertsson is an Icelandic singer-songwriter known for his soulful blend of country, blues, folk, and Americana. Drawing from deep roots in storytelling and acoustic traditions, his music combines heartfelt lyrics with raw, stripped-down arrangements. Formerly a member of local blues acts, Ellertsson stepped into the spotlight with his solo work, delivering honest, emotionally charged songs that resonate with listeners across genres.
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
I remember music being around the house very early — records spinning, the radio on — and how the room changed when a song came on. I didn’t know styles yet, but when a strong melody and a human voice filled the space, people went quiet or started smiling and singing. That feeling of music changing the atmosphere is my first memory of it.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
It started when I picked up a guitar as a teenager. I realised quickly that songwriting helped me make sense of things — not in a dramatic way, just honest and everyday. Once I wrote my first real song, I never really stopped.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
I’m in a run of releases that connect like chapters of one book. It began with “Ain’t Got No Silver,” a stripped-back folk-country ballad about grace in hardship. Then came “Sunday Blues,” upbeat on the surface with that familiar Sunday-evening melancholy underneath. I’m also working on “Night Riders,” leaning into a darker, cinematic desert-country mood. Together they touch on work, faith, doubt, weekend joy, and the quiet reckoning that follows — released independently, song by song, building toward a larger body of work.
How would you describe your sound to someone who’s never heard it?
Roots-driven Americana with a country-rock edge: acoustic at the core, a touch of blues, and plainspoken lyrics. I want the music to feel lived-in — warm, welcoming, and open to something deeper.
What is one thing you’ve learned that changed the way you make music?
Open-G tuning. It was a revelation — new voicings, drones and groove ideas fell under my fingers. Keith Richards was the gateway, of course.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your process?
An acoustic guitar, a phone for voice memos, and a place to jot lyric lines. I don’t work from notation — I share ideas with musicians and an engineer I trust. Technology comes later, to document something that already feels alive.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
Sierra Ferrell. I found her early on social media, and I’ve been a fan ever since — a great reminder that timeless songs still cut through.
How have your personal experiences shaped your music and vision?
I live and work in Iceland. Life here is small in scale but big in feeling, with a deep storytelling tradition — the Sagas and the Poetic Edda. People carry real stories — loss, humour, resilience — and those slip into my songs whether I plan it or not.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
That mix of light and shadow: to feel joy, or to feel moved enough to cry; to get goosebumps and be carried by a hook, but also hear something honest that stays with them.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
Patience and humility. Songs arrive when they’re ready, and once a track leaves your hands, you can’t control who it touches or how.
Dream venue or festival you’d love to play?
I’ve always been first and foremost a recording artist. The studio is where I feel most at home, so I don’t keep a bucket-list of venues. If a live moment happens, the dream is simply a small, great-sounding room where people are really listening.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be — and why?
Keith Richards — for the feel; Paul McCartney — for melody; Johnny Cash — for truth; Sierra Ferrell — for her voice, fire and finesse; and the Brudi Brothers — for a local spark.
Where can listeners follow and support your music?
You’ll find me as Ellertsson on all major platforms:
• Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/15cwwzE9crvfYa6mzMxwrH
• Instagram: @ellertsson.music
• TikTok: @ellertsson.music
• Facebook: Ellertsson Music
• YouTube: youtube.com/…/Ellertsson
• Linktree: linktr.ee/Ellertsson
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
To keep releasing steadily, build a strong catalogue that ties these stories together, and grow a live show that carries the same truth as the recordings.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
That I’m just a guy who loves music — with a creative urge that keeps me going through the highs and lows of life.
