Ellie Goulding on Why She Didn't Plan a "Divorce Album"

In a candid series of interviews in early 2026, Ellie Goulding has opened up about the creative evolution of her forthcoming sixth studio album. Speaking with Nylon and NME in late January, the "Lights" singer clarified that while her new music deeply explores the end of her marriage to art dealer Caspar Jopling, she never set out with the intention of making a "divorce album."

The revelation comes as Goulding prepares for a major year, having moved her album release forward to the first quarter of 2026 to accommodate her second pregnancy with boyfriend Beau Minniear.

A Reactionary Creative Process

Goulding explained that the shift toward more personal, somber material happened organically as her life changed. Her previous record, 2023’s Higher Than Heaven, was a deliberate departure into "escapist dance-pop" written during the pandemic, but the new project is a return to her "confessional" roots.

• The Goal Shift: "It had always been the goal to start this album," Goulding told Nylon. "I didn't know it was going to be a divorce album, but that's the way it started heading."

• Back to Basics: To capture the raw emotion of her separation, she ditched laptop-heavy production for a "back to basics" approach, picking up her guitar to evoke the "innocent and pure" feelings she had as a 15-year-old songwriter.

• The "Reactionary" Songs: She admitted that while some tracks are "reactionary and sad" reflections of a difficult time, they were necessary for her to process the "dark times" of her marriage failing while simultaneously navigating early motherhood.

Healing Through "Destiny"

The first taste of this new era arrived with the single "Destiny," released in November 2025. Produced by Jack Rochon, whom Goulding DM’d after seeing him play guitar on Instagram, the track serves as a bridge between her heartbreak and her new chapter.

Goulding described the day she met Rochon as the exact day she and Jopling decided to separate. "I was like, 'Jack, I should be candid with you. Today, my husband and I decided we’re going to separate,'" she recalled. This transparency led to a "triumphant" recording process that allowed her to reclaim her sensual side.

Respecting the Past, Embracing the Future

Despite the "divorce" label, Goulding is adamant about maintaining respect for her history with Jopling, with whom she shares her four-year-old son, Arthur.

• No Negative Connotations: The singer noted that divorce shouldn't have a "negative connotation" in 2026. "We're lucky to be in a position where we don't have to be married and we don't have to necessarily rely on somebody," she said.

• Ex-Husband’s Approval: In a surprising twist, she revealed that Jopling actually "loves" the new songs he has heard. "There are some songs that are necessary for me to acknowledge that time in my life and to be respectful of it," she added.

• The Full Spectrum: Goulding describes the album as a journey: "The songs have gone from so dark and angry, to cynical, to funny, to coming out the other side, to meeting a new guy and being excited."

2026: A Year of New Beginnings

With her next album slated for release in the coming weeks, Goulding is balancing her career with her expanding family. She recently confirmed her pregnancy with Beau Minniear, noting that while she is "growing a human," she is still writing and working every day.

The upcoming record is being hailed by insiders as her most "soulful and honest" work since Halcyon, marking a definitive end to her "escapism" era and a return to the vulnerable poetry that defined her early career.

Source - https://www.music-news.com/news/UK/186779/Ellie-Goulding-didn-t-plan-to-make-divorce-album

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