Ellie Goulding’s flair for the electric sparks in everything she touches — from her ever-widening canon of electro-pop hits, to her incendiary stage presence and the raw, no-mess energy that shot from UK favourite to global super stardom. Don’t be fooled by the flaxen hair and sweet, bubbly appearance — she is no one-note artist. Her music is just as likely to wrap you in a comforting, empathetic hug after a bitter breakup as it is to course through your veins at 2am on the dance floor. Ellie brings that same mesmerizing relatability to a M•A•C collection inspired by her life and work as an artist, thoughtfully crafted to meet the needs of any individual who shares the same desire to express sides both subdued and smouldering. Here, she opens up about her thoughts on music as self-expression, why she’s not afraid to embrace a bit of edge, and what it’s like to be electronica’s most magnetic muse.

How is your world as an artist woven into this collection?
The inspiration comes from me as a performer: the colours I use for my artwork and performances, what I wear when I perform, and I guess, myself. I am a huge fan of makeup so I wanted to create a range that was exciting and bright and fun, but also practical enough that you can wear it daily. The colours can create something more dramatic but also work well for an everyday look that’s more neutral and natural.

Which product are you most excited about?
The palette I created — a combination of powder, blusher and cream. You can use it to do a little bit of contouring, conceal, and then set it with powder or blush. To me, that’s a dream because I’m always carrying a thousand things around in my bag and it’s much easier to have something that’s all together.

This is your first foray into makeup — why M•A•C?
I’ve known M•A•C for as long as I’ve worn makeup. I never used to be able to afford it. I only ever borrowed my mom’s. So I dreamed of having my own makeup and having good makeup. I love the products because you can do so much with them. I have this personality where sometimes I want to look like a pretty Barbie doll, and other times I want to look like a wicked witch, so it’s always changing.

You don’t shy away from edginess.
I’ve always liked a bit of edge to what I wear. I like the idea of intimidating people. It used to be through my piercings but now I like to wear big, chunky boots or something that’s quite strong or masculine. But I also love wearing a beautiful white dress. I was a bit of a grunger when I was young — the baggy jeans — but I also love Courtney Love and Gwen Stefani. I went through a few different phases.

Phases that are often represented in your music, especially when it comes to your personal life.
I’m not too dissimilar to the average girl, really. I’ve got a lot going on and there’s a lot I want to get out. Just because I write about it doesn’t mean that I’m different to any other girl, I just have a way of being able to communicate it through music.

It does take a lot of confidence, though, to have your art be so personal. Most people don’t have their emotions projected to the world through hit songs.
I’ve learned to not be nervous about my own honesty and my desire to want to get things out. If I were nervous about what I did, every song I wrote and how honest I was, I’d never write anything. I’ve embraced that and decided there’s no point, whatsoever, for me to be shy. It’s not productive to be self-conscious.

You have become a true muse for many electronic music producers. What led you into that particular genre?
I’ve liked electronic music since I was really young. It was one of the first types of music I really remember. I grew up listening to 90s dance music. It happened the other way around for me — I was brought up to pop and dance music and then by my teens I was getting into rock, folk and older music. I’ve always had an affinity for electronic music and I think a lot of electronic producers and musicians can sense that in my lyrics and music and the way I arrange my songs. They’ve always been drawn to me and I’ve always been drawn to them.

You’re from the UK, but have made a huge name for yourself in the US as well. Do the two countries bring out different aspects of your persona?
In my own country, I am a lot more nervous because I feel like it’s a homecoming and at the smallest gig I have to impress and do well. I want to feel like I’m making people proud. In the States, people are really polite and happy about music. They don’t try to delve into how you got to where you are or why you wrote the way you did. It’s more about the moment and liking the music for what it is. But in the UK it’s a different kind of special to me because I want to come back and kill it and represent and perform to the people who saw me performing at the beginning of my career.