With a defiant middle finger in a string section tuxedo, The Earth & All Within announce themselves in unforgettable fashion. The Philadelphia-based project, led by singer-songwriter James Ellis, has just unveiled its debut self-titled album, a cinematic rock-opera hybrid that collides orchestral drama with raw, unfiltered rock energy. Its latest single 'I Never Liked You (Anyway…)' distills that ethos perfectly: a cathartic blast of punchy guitars, soaring strings, and a duel between electric guitar and violin that feels equal parts Foo Fighters, Van Halen, and symphony hall showdown.
Ellis describes the record as both a bold experiment and a deeply personal statement: “It was such a novel idea, a rock band with a string section. It felt like something that should have already existed, so I went ahead and did it myself.” Across the album, he digs into themes of resilience, mental health, and the search for harmony in chaos, carving out a sound as theatrical as it is visceral.
So with the new single out now, we sat down with James Ellis to dive into the inspiration behind 'I Never Liked You (Anyway…)', and what has influenced his sound most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
I was playing around in my grandmom’s basement as a kid and came across my aunt’s old classical guitar. It was beaten to hell in a dusty old faux-plywood case but there was something about it that made me want to pick it up and start strumming. The rest is history I guess.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
My formative years in music taste were between like…2002 and 2011. Simple Plan’s No Pads, No Helmets…Just Balls is still one of my favorite records even though it’s a little goofy and speaks to a much younger version of myself. But all the pop punk and emo through Four Year Strong’s Rise or Die Trying and The Wonder Year’s Suburbia I’ve Given You All is like who I am at my core.
What was the first album you remember owning?
The first album I ever bought with my own money was Matchbox Twenty’s More Than You Think You Are. Most of us will remember the mega-hits Bright Lights and Unwell but that whole album covers so much territory from Feel to The Difference, it holds up surprisingly well and I’ll still put it on and connect with it from time to time.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
This might be a little bit of a deep cut but Go West’s King of Wishful Thinking. That song is so perfectly arranged and produced that studying it really helped me paint a picture of how to build a song. Plus, the fact that the duo were both in their 30s when they wrote it was a bit of validation for my trying to start my own project at the age of 33.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
I don’t want to make a habit out of it but break ups and romantic let downs have been the most inspiring rituals to date hahah. I’ve tried writing for the sake of writing and those seed ideas usually feel flat to me. I’ve found I need to get out and experience life for the gem songs, traveling especially ends up with a solid song or two.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
For the next full length album I’d like to expand and incorporate horns into the arrangements so a lot of Phil Collins and 80s era Genesis. Even going as far back as Sinatra and Count Basie’s It Might as Well Be Swing to get a feel for how those big band formats manage a large orchestration.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Oof probably Biffy Clyro. Simon Neil is one of the guitarists who most influenced the way I approach writing guitar parts and the trio of albums between Puzzle, Only Revolutions, and Opposites are some of my all-time favorites. If Mike Vennart ever wants a break from touring, that is my dream gig.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
I will let you know when I see literally any singular reward come through lol. I mean, I grew a lot through not only writing these songs and processing my emotions through them, but the entire experience of finding and working with a string ensemble, recording out of two different studios, fixing mistakes as well as I could along the way. Finally playing the record front to back on a physical vinyl record was very rewarding after all of that.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Knowing that you’re sitting on something special that is new and exciting with a socially relevant message that a lot of people seem to be asking for but living through a time when culture is so decentralized that you can’t get a foothold anywhere to build from.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Don’t quit your day job.
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The Earth & All Within's new single 'I Never Liked You (Anyway...)' is out now. Check it out in the player below.