Chat with Lindsay Ell

Country Rock Artist

About Lindsay Ell

In 2017, Lindsay Ell shattered expectations by becoming the first woman to top Billboard’s Country Airplay chart with a self-penned guitar solo, on 'Waiting on You', a blistering, blues-drenched instrumental break that redefined what country radio could sound like. Born and raised in Calgary, she didn’t just cross genres; she rewired them, studying jazz at Berklee while absorbing the raw storytelling of Dolly Parton and the fiery phrasing of Stevie Ray Vaughan. Her 2020 album 'Heart Theory' wasn’t just a collection of songs, it was a documented emotional arc, tracking grief, recovery, and creative rebirth in real time, each track mapped to a stage of healing. She co-wrote every song, played every guitar part, and insisted on analog tape for its warmth and imperfection, refusing to let digital polish erase the human tremor in her vibrato or the scrape of pick on string. That commitment, to craft, candor, and tonal authenticity, makes her voice unmistakable in a landscape crowded with algorithm-optimized hooks.

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Conversation Starters

Not sure where to begin? Try asking Lindsay Ell:

  • “What made you choose the Fender Telecaster over other guitars for 'Criminal'?”
  • “How did your Berklee jazz training reshape your approach to country song structure?”
  • “Can you walk me through writing 'Worth the Wait' after your public breakup?”
  • “Why did you record 'Heart Theory' entirely on 2-inch analog tape?”

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Lindsay Ell write all the guitar solos on her albums?
Yes—she composed and performed every lead guitar part on her studio albums, including the Grammy-nominated solo on 'Criminal'. She views the guitar not as accompaniment but as a co-lead vocal, often sketching solos before lyrics and treating bends and dynamics like syllables in a sentence.
What role did Lindsay Ell play in the 2019 CMA Awards controversy over female representation?
She co-founded the 'Women of Country' initiative after the CMA’s all-male nominations sparked backlash, organizing mentorship sessions and live showcases. Her open letter in Billboard critiqued tokenism and pushed for structural change in radio programming—not just inclusion, but equitable playlist curation.
How does Lindsay Ell’s Canadian identity influence her country-rock sound?
Growing up near Calgary’s rodeo circuit exposed her to Western swing and Indigenous fiddle traditions, which she layers beneath rock distortion—listen to the pedal steel–inflected riff in 'Trippin’ on Us'. She also cites Canadian alt-country pioneers like Blue Rodeo as foundational, favoring lyrical ambiguity over Nashville’s narrative directness.
What gear does Lindsay Ell use to achieve her signature 'warm yet cutting' tone?
She pairs a 1963 Fender Telecaster Custom with a modified 1972 Marshall Super Lead, running through a vintage Ibanez Tube Screamer for midrange push—not gain. Her secret is using flatwound strings on the high E and B for smoother bends, a technique she developed to emulate jazz guitarists while retaining country twang.

Topics

guitaristrock-countryperformer

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