Elly Hopkins
Animal
Photo: Hannah Lisa photography
Elly Hopkins has put out her first EP, Animal, which brings together five songs she has been working on across the past year. It dropped today, 21st of November 2025 and shows her settling into her own writing after spending years performing mainly as a vocalist on bigger stages.
The three earlier singles Cecile, Animal, and Kintsugi form the core of the release. Each one already built a bit of momentum, especially Kintsugi, which picked up support from BBC Introducing in the West. The two new tracks, Bets and One Man Band, fill in the parts of her work that listeners hadn’t heard yet, giving the EP a clearer sense of who she is as a songwriter.
The three earlier singles Cecile, Animal, and Kintsugi form the core of the release. Each one already built a bit of momentum, especially Kintsugi, which picked up support from BBC Introducing in the West. The two new tracks, Bets and One Man Band, fill in the parts of her work that listeners hadn’t heard yet, giving the EP a clearer sense of who she is as a songwriter.
One Man Band closes the record. It moves at a quicker pace than the others and has a direct, slightly playful tone that suits her delivery. She keeps the writing plain and to the point, which has become a noticeable part of her style this year.
Hopkins has had a long run of live experience, including shows at the Royal Albert Hall and Glastonbury, but 2025 is the first time she has focused on her own material. The early reaction suggests that the shift has landed well, with reviewers highlighting her voice and the way she writes without overcomplicating things.
Animal feels like her starting line rather than a summary. It’s a short record, but it gives a clear hint of where she may head as she continues releasing new work.
She headlines The Croft in Bristol on the 3rd of December 2025.
Hopkins has had a long run of live experience, including shows at the Royal Albert Hall and Glastonbury, but 2025 is the first time she has focused on her own material. The early reaction suggests that the shift has landed well, with reviewers highlighting her voice and the way she writes without overcomplicating things.
Animal feels like her starting line rather than a summary. It’s a short record, but it gives a clear hint of where she may head as she continues releasing new work.
She headlines The Croft in Bristol on the 3rd of December 2025.