Ellie Goulding Releases New Single Destiny

Ellie Goulding released her new single "Destiny" on Friday, November 14, marking her return to solo music after a period of personal upheaval following her separation from husband Caspar Jopling earlier this year.

The British singer, 38, described the dreamy pop track as a cathartic outlet born from the emotional turbulence of her divorce after four and a half years of marriage. Goulding and Jopling, who share a four-year-old son named Arthur, announced their split in early 2024. "I first heard this track when I had recently separated from my husband," she told NME. "This was at a really turbulent time for me because I was trying to navigate what felt like a separation of all separations. It was a marriage, not just a relationship. I didn't know what else to do other than make music."

Co-written with Kurtis Wells and Livvi Franc, "Destiny" features Goulding's signature ethereal vocals layered over atmospheric production, including a choir and strings that build to a triumphant close. She collaborated with producer Jack Rochon after spotting his guitar playing on Instagram, leading to sessions that emphasized raw emotion over elaborate production. "Recording this was like a...