AFTER launching her debut EP to a sold-out crowd last week, 15-year-old singer songwriter Ellyana Sims is shining a light on blood cancer through music.
As part of a fundraiser for the Leukaemia Foundation, Ellyana launched her new release EP My Own Race at the Main Corner Complex on Saturday night.
By teaming up with a number of South East businesses and individuals, the event raised around $7000 for the foundation.
“It was amazing to see so many people get behind us for the event,” she said.
“Not only were they supporting the local music scene, but an important cause as well.”
With her aunt currently undergoing treatment for the disease, the cause was close to Ellyana’s heart.
“I wanted to raise money for a cause which meant a lot to my family and I,” she said.
“I wrote one of the songs on the EP, called Lena’s Song, for my aunt who was diagnosed with leukaemia earlier this year.”
Following her successful launch event, Ellyana was contacted by the Leukaemia Foundation to perform at the annual Light the Night event in Adelaide’s Victoria Square.
She will perform Lena’s Song at the nationally televised event for her biggest audience yet.
“This will definitely be my biggest performance yet, I am super excited, but feeling very nervous,” Ellyana said.
Ellyana has been singing for close to 10 years and her dream came to life after Tenison Woods College launched a program to create the EP.
By involving a number of students with various talents, the school drove the project to success and gave youths ownership of their creations.
Ellyana said she was grateful to be part of the program.
“I really loved the whole experience, it was so great to be in the studio writing and recording,” she said.
“The school was amazing and very supportive throughout the whole process.”
The EP features four tracks written and recorded by Ellyana and her band, as well as a track created during a recent SongMakers workshop at the school.
As part of the nationwide SongMakers program, producer Grant Windsor and The Potbelleez frontman Ilan Kidron spent two days with students to guide them through a songwriting journey.
Ellyana said the track Give It All Up was developed through the workshop.
“It was definitely one of the best workshops I have been involved with, it was so cool and super professional,” she said.
“I am so proud of what we achieved and I feel so lucky to be involved with this program.”
My Own Race is available for purchase on iTunes, Pandora and streaming on Spotify.
A signed copy can also be purchased through Ellyana’s Facebook page with all proceeds going to the Bridgestone Australia Leukaemia Foundation to support those in need of emergency accommodation.
