INSIDER: ELLIE GOULDING

Back in March,when we first introduced you to British singer and songwriter Ellie Goulding, we suggested you go ahead and put her on your iPod because she's about to hit it big in America very soon.

Well, we told you so. After touring with bands like Passion Pit and Little Boots, she's about to embark on a solo tour, starting with a string of sold-out shows. She stopped by our office to chat before her debut NYC performance.

What have you been up to?

I'm a little under the weather. I just got in from L.A., and before that I did a half-marathon. I only did it in an hour-fifty. I was aiming for 2 hours or so, so that was really cool. I kept a steady pace; I could have probably gone faster, but I wanted to be on the same side at the end [laughs].

How do you like being in NYC?

It's always exciting to be here. This is my first NYC show, and it's especially exciting because it's sold-out. I don't know what to expect. I know it's a huge deal to play here because people review you and stuff, but at the same time it's really safe just not to think about it.

You've gotten tons of attention recently. How do you feel about all that?

Well, for years I've played for parties and people, and when I was at uni I took the train to London to play. It was hard work, and I hate the thought that people assume that it just came overnight. It was a slow process of shows before everyone became interested.

How did your sound come about?

I discovered Imogen Heap when I was like 16, 17 and realized there was so much more to these pop singers. I listened to Beyonce and Lauren Hill and realized these artists have a technique. My music is a combination of different things: the production, the writing, everything.I think the reason why I was given the Brit Award was because I have a whole world in my voice, then another whole world in my production.

What's your game plan for the future?

Well, what I'm focusing on this year is to make sure I have longevity, to make sure I'm still around. I don't want to be one of those people who have one song and then they disappear- I just hate that mentality. Besides,there's so much beauty that people don't hear. That's why I'm always tweeting about my favorite songs, like, "please listen to this band!"

So who are you listening to?

I can tell you! [pulls out phone] I love really eerie, vocal things; it's really appealing for me. I love the band Everything Everything. I listening to their entire CD on the plane over here and it was amazing. I also love Jay-Z [laughs]. I'm not a snob, I'll never not like music just because it's popular. Lissie is a friend of mine, and I love listening to her. I'm really dedicated to listening to whole albums, which helps me from being suffocated by too much music. There's just so much out there.

Do you feel like you have to dress a certain way on stage?

In the U.K., I can kind of get away with wearing whatever during my shows, because the shows are so high-energy they usually carry themselves. But this time around, I want to make a bit of an effort. I went Urban Outfitters this morning and stock up on some clothes, and they opened early for me. Everyone was looking around, being like, "who is this girl?" They had no idea why I was there!

For more of Ellie Goulding and to see tour dates, check out her MySpace.