By Denny Patterson

Acclaimed British music artist Sophie Ellis-Bextor, who is best known for her unique blend of dance-pop, disco, and indie sounds, will be bringing her highly anticipated debut U.S. tour to South Florida’s Parker Playhouse on November 12, 2024. 

With a career spanning over two decades, Ellis-Bextor first came to prominence in the late 1990s as the lead singer of the indie rock band Theaudience. She then established herself as a pop diva after captivating audiences worldwide with hits like “Murder on the Dancefloor,” which gained renewed popularity after appearing in 2023’s cult film Saltburn, surging on streaming platforms, rising on the U.K charts, and giving the singer her first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100.

Ellis-Bextor took some time to talk more about her upcoming concert with OutClique, as well as her special connection with audiences, “Murder on the Dancefloor” taking her career to new levels, and additional projects. 

Denny Patterson: Thank you for taking some time to chat with me, Sophie! How excited are you to perform at the Parker in Fort Lauderdale?

Sophie Ellis-Bextor: I can’t wait! You might already know, but this year has been very exciting because I am doing my first-ever shows in the United States, so I’m excited to visit Fort Lauderdale. I’m making the most of all these opportunities, so any vintage shops in the area, watch out! I’ll be coming to have a little snoop. 

Denny Patterson: What can we expect from this concert?

Sophie Ellis-Bextor: We’ve been doing sort of a whistle-stop party through the albums. I’ve got songs as recent as the ones I’ve brought out last year, and then  I’ve got all the old stuff and covers that I do. I suppose it’s kind of an extension of what we were doing in the UK, which is called the Kitchen Disco Tour. I’ve got a spinning wheel with a load of my songs on it as well, so there’s a bit of the unknown in there as well. My intention, I have to say, is always to dance with people. Wherever we start, that’s usually where we end up.

Denny Patterson: What has been your favorite part about traveling around the United States?

Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Golly, all of it. I’m someone that loves to travel anywhere, and I love doing shows. That’s already two of my favorite things, but I never knew I’d get this opportunity. It’s a real adventure, and this year has been so special. Not just because it’s been a chance to go somewhere I’ve never been before and do shows, but what I’ve found waiting for me is that there are people who’ve clearly been supporting what I’ve been doing all these years. That’s been incredibly moving and gorgeous. Also, for a British artist, there’s just the glamor of coming to America. There’s always been a cultural dialogue between the UK and U.S.

Denny Patterson: What do you enjoy the most about performing for live audiences?

Sophie Ellis-Bextor: For me, doing a live show is a bit like having a date and you’re really hoping to win them over. With every gig, I’m hoping that I spark the intent to have another gig together one day. It’s all about chemistry, and although I can plan as much as I like, the magic is within the moment. There’s always that feeling in the air. Sometimes, after you’re a couple minutes in, you’re like, oh my God, this is going to be great. Other times, you’ve got to find your way a little bit, but I like trying to crack the code so it gets to where it needs to go. When I’m doing live shows, everything else gets left behind. I’m very much in that moment, and I think any job that involves something like that is a bit of a privilege. 

Denny Patterson: And what do you always hope audiences take away from your sets?

Sophie Ellis-Bextor: I just want people to walk out feeling that they have a bit more spring in their step than they walked in with. I’ve dealt with lots of different themes musically, but ultimately, I’m an optimist, so there’s a lot of optimism in my music. I think it’s a really big deal if someone buys tickets to my show. It’s not lost on me that someone made the decision to do that. They’ve kept that evening free so they can come and see me, and I want people to feel like they made the right decision.

Denny Patterson: As one of Britain’s biggest pop artists, you emerged in the late 90s/early 2000s. Have you always had a passion and desire to pursue a music career?

Sophie Ellis-Bextor: I believe so. The moment I started singing on stage with a band, which was when I was 16, I really had no other career plans. No matter what kind of twisty road it’s taken, and it’s been very twisty, it’s always been the thing that I do. Ultimately, I’m very fortunate to have something that I feel that way about because you can kind of take it for granted. As soon as I started singing, I was like, this is what I’m supposed to do. 

Denny Patterson: Have you always been drawn to the glossy, disco- and ’80s-synth-pop influenced dance sound?

Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Actually, no. I kind of discovered it as I went along, and I didn’t really discover disco until I accidentally found myself making a house track called “Groovejet.” I liked doing “Groovejet,” but it confused me because I was an indie kid, and I was like, why on earth does this appeal to me? Then I delved deeper and discovered the roots of it. It kind of made sense of a lot of things I’d always liked, and I was a real pop kid when I was little as well. So, no, I didn’t sort of link it all together until I was making my first solo album, and it evolved from there. 

Denny Patterson: Although you have been making music all these years, you had a major comeback/resurgence thanks to your song, “Murder on the Dancefloor,” being featured in the last scene of Saltburn. I know you’ve seen the film, but were you initially aware of where it was going to be placed at?

Sophie Ellis-Bextor: (Laughs) I knew enough! I knew it was going to soundtrack a naked man dancing, but I didn’t realize how dark and witty the movie was going to be. I absolutely loved it. First time I saw it, I was like, aha! This is my kind of movie. I’ve seen it twice. The first time, it was quite jarring to hear myself at the end of this film, and the second time, I saw it more in context. But I was just so flattered. It’s a big compliment when a director wants to involve your music in that way, and I think Emerald Fennell is very talented. Even if nothing had happened beyond it being in the movie, I was happy. 

Denny Patterson: As a result, the song re-entered the UK singles chart, garnered its most-ever global streams on Spotify, and gave you your first-ever U.S. singles chart entry. What did that feel like, and did you ever think “Murder on the Dancefloor,” this particular song, would take your career to new levels?

Sophie Ellis-Bextor: When it was all kicking off, it was joyful, but bonkers. It’s a bit like getting on a ride that you think is a carousel, and then finding out it’s a roller coaster. Everything was a whirlwind, but the good news is I was still happily putting out music. I feel like I’ve been able to really run with all the adventures it’s given me and enjoy them a lot, and I’m sharing this with a lot of other people, like my husband and little brother, who are both in my band. I saw the people I worked with back when I made “Murder,” and I’m still working with a lot of them. So, I’m not on my own here, and it’s been gorgeous. I’ve had so much fun with that song already and I sing it all the time. It’s a song that’s been in my set since it came out, so it’s glorious to have another adventure with it. 

Denny Patterson: Another song of yours that I am absolutely obsessed with right now is “Hypnotized.” What’s the story behind that track?

Sophie Ellis-Bextor: This really talented Scottish writer and producer by the name of Pete, otherwise known as Wuh Oh, I’ve done other stuff with him subsequently, and like you and I, he’s someone who just loves those kinds of flavors as well. He already had the essence of the song; I came into it later and loved it. I’m sometimes a bit wary of jumping in when the song’s already starting to find its feet because I feel like, does it need me? But it was one of those where I was like, I think this song and I were meant to be together. It’s been a real delight, and the video is directed by the same person who did “Murder on the Dancefloor.”

Denny Patterson: What are some music projects you’re currently working on?

Sophie Ellis-Bextor: I am in the process of a new album, and I believe we’re about ready to release it out into the world. It’s a pop/dance album, and I haven’t made an album like this in a long time. I’ve loved making other kinds of records, but I was already planning this, so having what’s happened with “Murder” has been like the winds blowing in the right direction. 

Denny Patterson: Outside of music, you have a podcast series called Spinning Plates, where you speak to busy working women, who also happen to be mothers, about how they make it work. How has that been going?

Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Good! I love those conversations. I’ve learned a lot, and I think it’s encouraged me as well to give me permission to do what I do and not feel as guilty. So, credit to all those conversations. I started this podcast because I’ve always found that to be the trickiest part. I love what I do, but I have five kids, and they need their mom. I also want to be around for them, so trying to find that emotional balance and speaking to all the other women has encouraged me to change the way I speak about my workspace to my kids. This past year, they’ve obviously seen me have to go away a lot, but I’ve said, I’ve worked a very long time to get these opportunities, and it’s ultimately for us, too. I think that’s helped. I also love hearing about other people’s life experiences, but the fact that they’re all mothers is kind of the icebreaker. 

Denny Patterson: Before we wrap up, your music has always resonated with the LGBTQ+ community. Is there anything you would like to say to your queer fans?

Sophie Ellis-Bextor: I always struggle to articulate these things, but I think it’s sufficient to say I would not be the kind of artist I am without queer fans. There’s a lot of reasons for that, but one of them is the fact that when I’ve performed at places like G-A-Y, Mighty Hoopla, etc., I’ve been met with such warmth and comfort. I feel very safe, and feeling safe is something you cannot expect. I spent the first part of my career with that critic voice in my head, ripping myself to shreds, but when you walk on stage and feel safe, it allows you to be a bit more accepting and have a bit more fun. I know for a fact that would never have happened without those experiences and the continuation of it, and that will always resonate with me. I feel privileged to be involved in the queer space.