{"id":126921,"date":"2025-03-24T11:11:29","date_gmt":"2025-03-24T16:11:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=126921"},"modified":"2025-03-24T11:11:50","modified_gmt":"2025-03-24T16:11:50","slug":"qa-with-songwriter-producer-musician-musical-director-simon-ellis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=126921","title":{"rendered":"Q&#038;A with Songwriter, Producer, Musician &#038; Musical Director Simon Ellis"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1545664804358300\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block; text-align: center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1545664804358300\" data-ad-slot=\"8616314829\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/script><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=126921\" rel=\"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=126921\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-126922 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/76142EFC-1D74-47E7-BEB0-5F037A2A4959-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/76142EFC-1D74-47E7-BEB0-5F037A2A4959-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/76142EFC-1D74-47E7-BEB0-5F037A2A4959-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/76142EFC-1D74-47E7-BEB0-5F037A2A4959-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/76142EFC-1D74-47E7-BEB0-5F037A2A4959-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/76142EFC-1D74-47E7-BEB0-5F037A2A4959-1536x1536.png 1536w, https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/76142EFC-1D74-47E7-BEB0-5F037A2A4959.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Exclusive Interview by Karen Beishuizen<br \/>\nPhotos courtesy of Simon Ellis<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Simon Ellis is an English songwriter, producer, musician and musical director who worked with artists like Spice Girls, Britney Spears, Westlife, S Club 7, East 17 and with music giant Simon Fuller. In 1988 he formed the band Ellis, Beggs &amp; Howard with Nick Beggs and Austin Howard: their first single \u201cBig Bubbles, No Troubles\u201d became a huge hit across Europe.<\/p>\n<p>He still works with Westlife as their musical director and keyboard player and writes for various K Pop artists. <!--more--><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>KB: Did you always want to be a musician as a kid growing up?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Looking back, it\u2019s obvious now I would end up being a musician. Music played a huge part of my early life, I listened nonstop to the radio from the age of 5 upwards, and a great love of pop music was born then.<\/p>\n<p>I learned to play piano to a good standard very quickly at the age of 11. In 6 weeks from starting to learn I was a good player. Growing up on a council estate in Bradford, I was different to the other kids I guess, I lived and breathed music and it was all I ever talked about. So yeah, I knew from very early music would play a huge part in my life as an adult.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>KB: Ellis Beggs and Howard: How did you guys get together and how was the song &#8220;Big Bubbles No Troubles&#8221; created? I love that song!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>After graduating from university with a degree in graphic design I moved to London to work there. I started playing part time with the band \u201cPleasure and The Beast\u201d and met a German guy called Luxi backstage one night.<\/p>\n<p>Luxi and I became great friends, he became my manager, and he introduced me to Austin Howard. Austin and I started writing songs together and then one day Nick Beggs called the office looking for musicians to work with and Lexi introduced him to me and Austin. The three of us started writing together and clicked immediately. That was Ellis Beggs and Howard.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBig Bubbles\u201d came about because we needed a B side for our first single \u201cBad Times\u201d, so we had to write something very quickly to record the next day for the record company. We wrote \u201cBig Bubbles\u201d, the record company loved it and said, \u201cforget Bad Times, this is your first single!\u201d Radio 1 in the UK A-listed it immediately, as did many radio stations across Europe. We had created a monster totally by mistake. Because it sounded nothing like anything else on the album \u201cHomelands\u201d it caused us problems, everyone wanted another song like \u201cBig Bubbles\u201d, and we didn\u2019t have one.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>KB: Simon Fuller asked you to join a new project: The Spice Girls. How was it working with them?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>I was asked by Simon Fuller to be Musical Director for The Spice Girls for their two Istanbul shows in 1997. The girls were already blowing up worldwide so to get the job that every MD in the world was after was a huge honor and a big responsibility.<\/p>\n<p>We did the Istanbul shows which were a huge success, and I was invited to MD their upcoming world tour in 1998. Because I was there with them almost from the start, we all witnessed what it was growing into together and never a day went by when me and the girls wouldn\u2019t be laughing at how ridiculously big this beast was becoming. By the time we got to the US leg of the tour it was like the Beatles had landed again.<\/p>\n<p>We were all good mates, all five of the girls were amazing to work with, just lovely, lovely people. That time was very special for me and of course I have continued to work with them to this day and we\u2019re all still good mates.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>KB: You worked with Britney Spears on two of her tours. How was it working with her?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>I have to be very careful here and not say anything that could be taken out of context. To work with one of the biggest icons in pop music history as her musical director is a huge achievement for a kid from a council estate in Bradford and is something I\u2019m massively proud of.<\/p>\n<p>Britney at the time was in the middle of her conservatorship, so at times things were a little strained, not between me and her, she was always lovely to me, but I found the atmosphere around the camp a little stressful at times.<\/p>\n<p>The two tours I did &#8211; \u201cCircus\u201d and \u201cFemme Fatale\u201d were huge successes though and I think the work I did was some of the best I have ever done. Every song had to be remixed and refreshed or Britney said she wasn\u2019t interested in performing them so hats off to her for making that call.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s what I do best anyway so it was great fun and all the remixes I\u2019m very proud of.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>KB: Westlife: You did a few tours with them. Do you prefer the role of musical director or rather play with them on stage behind keyboards?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>I started working with the boys in 2010 I think and still work with them today as their Musical Director \/ tour keyboard player.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re just amazing people, haven\u2019t got a bad word to say about them. I love them to bits. It\u2019s always a constant laugh whenever we\u2019re together, they\u2019re hilarious.<\/p>\n<p>I love both roles, MD and keys player. They\u2019re constantly wanting to refresh their music as well which I love doing, plus it helps when two members of the band are world class singers which Shane and Mark are.<\/p>\n<p>Westlife is a very well-oiled machine; all four members are an integral part of that machine which is why they are still playing stadiums around the globe. I have a massive respect for that.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>KB: What makes a song a hit?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Haven\u2019t got a clue. I wish I knew. The hits I have written are good songs but what makes them better than the other less famous songs I have written? No Idea. Answers on a postcard.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>KB: I give you an album and you can choose your 7 most favorite songs (not your own): what would you pick and why?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Jeez, that\u2019s difficult, almost impossible to choose. I\u2019ll list seven here but can guarantee I\u2019ll be kicking myself for weeks when I think of songs I have left out.<\/p>\n<p>So, off the top of my head, for now\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Motive\u201d &#8211; Then Jerico. This is such an incredible record, three hook lines a writer would kill to write, a great vocal performance from Mark. It\u2019s a nostalgic hit for me when times were amazing in London.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cWelcome to the Pleasuredome\u201d &#8211; Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Same as the Jerico song, amazing memories of times in London in the mid 80\u2019s. There has been nothing like this band since, such amazing power and style and this is my favorite of their hits.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cI Don\u2019t Believe in You\u201d &#8211; Talk Talk. My favorite Talk Talk song. Mark Hollis is my all-time musical hero, \u201cSpirit of Eden\u201d is my all-time favorite album, so I had to include one TT song. This song isn\u2019t on \u201cSpirit of Eden\u201d by the way, it\u2019s from \u201cThe Color of Spring\u201d which is also incredible.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cHurricane\u201d &#8211; Bob Dylan. Incredible storytelling from a true genius.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cWon\u2019t Get Fooled Again\u201d &#8211; The Who. I mean, come on!<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cI Got You\u201d &#8211; Split Enz. A perfect slice of pop with one of the best pop choruses ever written. Genius.<\/em><br \/>\n<em>\u201cTinseltown in the Rain\u201d &#8211; The Blue Nile. Beautiful song.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>KB: You worked with so many talented people in your career. Are there currently any out there you would love to work with?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>I would love to MD Pink; I think she\u2019s amazing. I almost got the Lady Gaga gig back in 2009 when she was breaking out, would have loved to do that.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>KB: What are you currently up to?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Currently writing for various K Pop artists which is a learning curve let me tell you! Also, I\u2019m trying up to be a proficient Mix engineer which has always been a love of mine. I write and produce songs, but the mixing of the songs has always been something I have loved being involved in but was never good enough to do by myself. So, I\u2019m throwing myself into that as well as writing. Happy days.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Check out Simon\u2019s website: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simonellismusic.com\/\"><strong>HERE<\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #808000;\"><a style=\"color: #808000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.authorhouse.com\/en\/bookstore\/bookdetails\/232300-BOXING-INTERVIEWS-OF-A-LIFETIME\">Click Here to Order Boxing Interviews Of A Lifetime By &#8220;Bad&#8221; Brad Berkwitt<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"wpforms-container wpforms-container-full\" id=\"wpforms-126533\"><form id=\"wpforms-form-126533\" class=\"wpforms-validate wpforms-form wpforms-ajax-form\" data-formid=\"126533\" method=\"post\" enctype=\"multipart\/form-data\" action=\"\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F126921\" data-token=\"8d7286a72339418fa5a93c1a32ccd84b\" data-token-time=\"1776798245\"><noscript class=\"wpforms-error-noscript\">Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.<\/noscript><div class=\"wpforms-field-container\">\t\t<div id=\"wpforms-126533-field_4-container\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-text\"\n\t\t\tdata-field-type=\"text\"\n\t\t\tdata-field-id=\"4\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<label class=\"wpforms-field-label\" for=\"wpforms-126533-field_4\" >Comment Email Name<\/label>\n\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" id=\"wpforms-126533-field_4\" class=\"wpforms-field-medium\" name=\"wpforms[fields][4]\" >\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div id=\"wpforms-126533-field_1-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-name\" data-field-id=\"1\"><label class=\"wpforms-field-label\">Name <span class=\"wpforms-required-label\">*<\/span><\/label><div class=\"wpforms-field-row wpforms-field-medium\"><div class=\"wpforms-field-row-block wpforms-first wpforms-one-half\"><input type=\"text\" id=\"wpforms-126533-field_1\" class=\"wpforms-field-name-first wpforms-field-required\" name=\"wpforms[fields][1][first]\" required><label for=\"wpforms-126533-field_1\" class=\"wpforms-field-sublabel after\">First<\/label><\/div><div class=\"wpforms-field-row-block wpforms-one-half\"><input type=\"text\" id=\"wpforms-126533-field_1-last\" class=\"wpforms-field-name-last wpforms-field-required\" name=\"wpforms[fields][1][last]\" required><label for=\"wpforms-126533-field_1-last\" class=\"wpforms-field-sublabel after\">Last<\/label><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-126533-field_2-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-email\" data-field-id=\"2\"><label class=\"wpforms-field-label\" for=\"wpforms-126533-field_2\">Email <span class=\"wpforms-required-label\">*<\/span><\/label><input type=\"email\" id=\"wpforms-126533-field_2\" class=\"wpforms-field-medium wpforms-field-required\" name=\"wpforms[fields][2]\" spellcheck=\"false\" required><\/div><div id=\"wpforms-126533-field_3-container\" class=\"wpforms-field wpforms-field-textarea\" data-field-id=\"3\"><label class=\"wpforms-field-label\" for=\"wpforms-126533-field_3\">Comment or Message<\/label><textarea id=\"wpforms-126533-field_3\" class=\"wpforms-field-medium\" name=\"wpforms[fields][3]\" ><\/textarea><\/div><script>\n\t\t\t\t( function() {\n\t\t\t\t\tconst style = document.createElement( 'style' );\n\t\t\t\t\tstyle.appendChild( document.createTextNode( '#wpforms-126533-field_4-container { position: absolute !important; overflow: hidden !important; display: inline !important; height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important; z-index: -1000 !important; padding: 0 !important; } #wpforms-126533-field_4-container input { visibility: hidden; } #wpforms-conversational-form-page #wpforms-126533-field_4-container label { counter-increment: none; }' ) );\n\t\t\t\t\tdocument.head.appendChild( style );\n\t\t\t\t\tdocument.currentScript?.remove();\n\t\t\t\t} )();\n\t\t\t<\/script><\/div><!-- .wpforms-field-container --><div class=\"wpforms-recaptcha-container wpforms-is-recaptcha wpforms-is-recaptcha-type-v2\" ><div class=\"g-recaptcha\" data-sitekey=\"6LeyxF8eAAAAALCgKefmpigcK22wWdwPbUdyB_q8\"><\/div><input type=\"text\" name=\"g-recaptcha-hidden\" class=\"wpforms-recaptcha-hidden\" style=\"position:absolute!important;clip:rect(0,0,0,0)!important;height:1px!important;width:1px!important;border:0!important;overflow:hidden!important;padding:0!important;margin:0!important;\" data-rule-recaptcha=\"1\"><\/div><div class=\"wpforms-submit-container\" ><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"wpforms[id]\" value=\"126533\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"page_title\" value=\"\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"page_url\" value=\"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126921\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"url_referer\" value=\"\"><button type=\"submit\" name=\"wpforms[submit]\" id=\"wpforms-submit-126533\" class=\"wpforms-submit\" data-alt-text=\"Sending...\" data-submit-text=\"Submit\" aria-live=\"assertive\" value=\"wpforms-submit\">Submit<\/button><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/wpforms-lite\/assets\/images\/submit-spin.svg\" class=\"wpforms-submit-spinner\" style=\"display: none;\" width=\"26\" height=\"26\" alt=\"Loading\"><\/div><\/form><\/div>  <!-- .wpforms-container -->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Exclusive Interview by Karen Beishuizen Photos courtesy of Simon Ellis Simon Ellis is an English songwriter, producer, musician and musical director who worked with artists like Spice Girls, Britney Spears, Westlife, S Club 7, East 17 and with music giant Simon Fuller. In 1988 he formed the band Ellis, Beggs &amp; Howard with Nick Beggs [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":126922,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28132,17984],"tags":[32648,32647,32646],"class_list":["post-126921","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-columns-by-karen-beishuizen","category-entertainment-news","tag-musician-musical-director-simon-ellis","tag-producer","tag-qa-with-songwriter"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126921","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=126921"}],"version-history":[{"count":-3,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126921\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/126922"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=126921"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=126921"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=126921"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}