15 December 26, 2024-January 1, 2025 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents work,” Cormier says now. He drew inspiration from all around him: Listening to the Chicks’ Wide Open Spaces on car rides with his mother; hearing Sylvan Esso’s debut album and feeling the possibili- ties expand. After returning from attending college in Washington, D.C., Cormier con- nected with Dashboard Confessional’s John Lefler, who helped him cut his first single, “American Denim.” “It wasn’t until moving [back] to Dallas that I was introduced to a community that was supportive and willing to help me record my songs and share them,” Cormier says. In the time since the 2022 release of “Denim,” Cormier, who namechecks MUNA, Fred Again and Caroline Po- lachek as a few of his inspirations, has found his footing and swiftly made his mark. In Febru- ary 2024, he dropped his debut EP, denim and fol- lowed that up with a new single, “dirtyu,” which he released through State Fair Re- cords. “Even now, it seems folks typically ex- pect a certain type of music from Texas, usually country or rock,” says Cormier, who identifies as queer. “There are so many different artists doing so many cool things in music, film, photography, et cetera. I want to contribute to this community of artists, and elevate the voices and work of other queer artists from other mediums through my work.” With a fresh set of months around the corner, Cormier has no intention of taking his foot off the gas. He plans to release a live recording of his band’s performance at the Nasher Sculpture Garden’s Pride event from earlier in 2024, will perform at Club Dada as part of February’s JAMBALOO event and is writing and recording a new album. “The songs are really fun and honest, ex- ploring queer identity and relationships,” Cormier says of the new material. “I feel like I’m getting better and more adventurous as a writer.” “I write the music that I need,” Cormier says. “I hope that people find comfort, joy and belonging in my music. Ideally, I would love everyone that listens to feel transcen- dent freedom and absolute fearlessness, but as long as people move around and have a little fun at one of my shows, I’d call that a win.” Ella Red W hatever else you may think of Ella Red’s music, absolutely no one can accuse her of taking it easy. The 21-year-old Frisco-based singer- songwriter, whose irresistible single “Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is” is spreading like wildfire, is seizing her mo- ment with both hands. Her recent signing with Nettwerk Music Group is a move that unquestionably raises her profile at home and elsewhere. “I’ve been working on so much music, and I haven’t been able to release it,” she says. “I have a few songs that I’ve been sit- ting on for a while that I think are going to be released early next year that a lot of people have been asking for, because I play [them] at my live shows … like, where’s ‘Parasite,’ where’s ‘We’re All Gonna Die’?” Beyond getting her music in the hands of fans, Ella Red plans to hit the road, opening up for Lolo in February and March — “I’m finally hitting the east side of America,” as she puts it — and picking up additional dates when and where she can. She also intends to release an acoustic EP at some point in 2025, continue to expand her reach on social media and even work on picking up another language — or two. “I’m a big language fanatic,” the singer says. “I love learning languages, and one thing I want to start doing is expanding, not just into English[-language] songs, but moving to French and Japanese and possi- bly Korean and Chinese, just to reach those different people who are in my fan- base better. I think music is such a bridge between languages and between cultures.” For all of that — like we said, no days off for Ella Red — she has no plans to leave North Texas and try her luck living else- where. To hear her tell it, she has abso- lutely everything she needs to attain stardom right here. “I’ve thought about that so many times: ‘Do I need to leave Dallas?’” she says. “Then I think, ‘I worked so hard to break into this music scene here, so what would the point be in leaving and starting anew somewhere else?’ There’s already such a huge [scene here] and it’s starting to grow, specifically the alternative-pop scene. … Dallas is rising up with the alternative scene.” Mike Brooks Sam Cormier explores queer identity. Mike Brooks Ella Red has plans to hit the road in February in March, but her home will remain Dallas. Mike Brooks Gracen Wynn wants to help others feel heard. “I WRITE THE MUSIC THAT I NEED. I HOPE THAT POEPLE FIND COMFORT, JOY, AND BELONGING IN MY MUSIC.” -SAM CORMIER
