Ella Mai asks, ‘Do You Still Love Me?’

Ella Mai is at her home in Los Angeles, sitting in a gamer-style chair. Her hair is slicked back and she’s dressed in comfy clothes. Little Simz joins the call, wearing a black puffer jacket despite dialling in from her sofa, notebook at the ready. From the moment the artists appear on screen, the warmth between them is clear. They catch up for a while, sharing a few laughs and reminiscing over memories made during their decade of friendship. Mai grins and says, “I saw Khalid posted a picture of some Halloween party. I can’t even remember where it was but we went together. And I was like, ‘Oh my god, me and Simz have known each other for 10 years.’” Simz, with a genuine grin, replies, “It’s mad.” But between the in-jokes and stories, the heart of this conversation lies with Mai’s new album, Do You Still Love Me? Executively produced by Mustard, its 14 tracks are already being teased through singles ‘100’, ‘Tell Her’ and ‘Little Things’; each confident and unfiltered. 

Now, at 31, Mai is a mother, a star and a woman fully aware of her own strengths. And in Do You Still Love Me?, that all comes through. On the other side of the call, Simz echoes this sentiment. She tells her friend that she listened to the new album on the train, making notes and thinking, “This sounds so confident, so mature, so grown — and just like you’re really, really woman.” When the interview finally starts, Simz pulls out her notebook full of questions, and there it unfolds: two incredible women speaking about creativity, growth and the kind of friendship that stands the test of time.

With two albums to her name already — the self-titled Ella Mai (2018) and Heart on My Sleeve (2022 — the Grammy-winning artist first caught the attention of American Producer DJ Mustard back in 2015 on Instagram. By 2016, at just 21 years old, the London-born singer had moved from London to Los Angeles, signing with 10 Summers Records, and simultaneously trying to find her footing. “I had no clue what was going on,” she admits. “But one thing I will say: I was always very sure of my music.” Her breakout single, ‘Boo’d Up’, was confirmation that Mai was justified in her self-belief. Dropping in 2017, the song propelled her to international success; it led to her debut album and, in 2019, a Grammy for Best R&B song. 

Little Simz: I’ll just start by asking you: If you could describe how you feel right now in a colour what would it be and why?

Ella Mai: It would be yellow, because it’s quite soft. When we wrapped up this album, we were thinking of colours that it represented; leading into shooting the album cover, which is green. But all of the writing [on it] is yellow, because it feels like a confident colour to me. That’s the era I’m in. I’m super self-assured, confident, but still soft and woman and feminine. I feel like it’s in-your-face a little bit more now, my feminine energy.

LS: Ten years ago, you dropped Change. How do you think you’ve ‘changed’?

EM: If you were to tell me at 21 that I was going to be the 31-year-old I am now, I would have been like, ‘There’s no chance.’ I’ve grown so much and have a different perspective on life. As much as music is my passion — I love it — I also have a lot of other things that make me happy and fulfilled. I’m a mum now, and to still have my career and watch them both coincide is something that I never thought would even come into my mind. 

“There’s more to life than what you’re used to.”

LS: And going back further, you moved to New York when you were 12. Do you have any memories that stood out to you from then? 

EM: I’d been to New York a couple times before I actually moved because I have family there. Then when we moved, I hated it; visiting somewhere on holiday and actually living there are two completely different things. Being 12, that’s a tough age to pick up and just leave everything you know, because you’re also starting to try and find your identity. I didn’t know anyone other than my family. I didn’t go to the same school as my cousin. I stuck out like a complete sore thumb because I had an English accent. I felt like the only thing people really knew about England is what they saw on TV, which, for the most part, is the Royal Family, Harry Potter, stuff like that. I was getting asked ridiculous questions, like, ‘Have [you] ever been to Hogwarts?’ It was really difficult because it was so different. In England, I’d grown up with all of the same friends, same school, same area. I think I would have been a completely different person if I didn’t have that experience. It taught me that there’s more to life than what you’re used to. You can step out of your bubble, and although it can be uncomfortable, you’ll figure it out. But I love New York, I think it’s one of the best cities in the world. 

LS: Alright, let’s get into this album. How do you even know when you’re ready to start an album?

EM: Sometimes I’ll be itchy, like, ‘I have some stuff to say. I need to get in the studio. I need to put these thoughts down and see what it sounds like.’ I actually feel like that already — like I’m ready to start the fourth album, even though the third one hasn’t come out yet. But I’m excited for everyone to hear this [one] and still live in this world for a little bit longer.

LS: Do you ever experience self-doubt or loss of confidence by the time you get to that next cycle, where you’re getting back into making a record?

EM: We work on an album for so long, tour, all the things, and then I think it’s important to have downtime where you really do just live. Living your life is such an important part of making a record, because you need things to speak about. But I definitely have doubts sometimes. With my debut album being so successful, when I went in to record my second album, I was like, ‘What am I supposed to do here?’ And while I was making this album, I was pregnant and postpartum, so I didn’t want anything to stress me out. I was in a vulnerable place and I was like, ‘Let’s just make stuff that feels good.’ That was really my intention. That’s also why I love the project so much — because it just feels like a safe space to me, even though it’s vulnerable.

LS: I heard something on your album… Do you feel like Scorpios have got bad PR?

EM: We have terrible PR. I can only speak for Scorpio women, because I’m a Scorpio woman, but I feel like everyone just thinks we’re super jealous, we’re super territorial, if you do anything remotely wrong, we’ll sting you. It’s such a misconception. We are very confident people, very assertive, the exterior is very powerful, and I think that’s intimidating to some people. If you really peel back the layers, we’re actually big softies. 

“If you really peel back the layers, we’re actually big softies.”

LS: When it comes to the visual aspect of the record, are you world-building as you’re making the music, or is that a separate part of the process for you?

EM: We definitely did build a world, even if it wasn’t intentional, and I think that world already existed while I was recording; I just wasn’t aware of it. Everything feels a lot more personal in this and almost like my love letters. A big part of it was communication, and the different ways you communicate. And also perspective, which leads into my album cover. Perspective was a very prominent subject because when I say, ‘Do you still love me?’, I could be talking to a lover, I could be talking to myself… I want to be really intentional with this [album] and make it feel like you’re in my world.

LS: What does safety and protection look like to you in this industry?

EM: The people that you have around, that’s really, really important. Being able to have people that you trust, and trust on a level away from music. With [my producer], Mustard, when I first met him and we were doing studio sessions, I know I could call at 1am if I really needed something and he would pick up. That’s really my brother, and I feel like that is a safe place — where you can trust people with your career. Now that I’ve been in it for 10 years, I think I’ve found my stride and what works for me. 

LS: And finally, Ella, 10 years on in our friendship, do you still love me?

EM: Of course I do. You’re one of my favourite people on this whole planet. Anyone who knows me knows I’ve always got time for Simbi. I’ve always got love for Simbi.