YIKES is the sophomore album of singer-songwriter, musical theater composer, and queer-joy menace, Ellen Winter, released in 2024.
TBH, Ellen had all sorts of ideas for what her second record was gonna be and then - she got dumped. Holed up in her new studio apartment with her anxious dog and a version of Logic Pro still registered to her ex, she oscillated between watching hours of “Adventure Time” in a stoned paralysis and furiously writing, producing, and recording the ten tracks (plus some sneaky bonus tunes) that make up her new album.
What is "YIKES?"
Produced by the dream team behind her debut album, Every Feeling I’ve Ever Felt; Charles Wanless, Chris Littler, and Ellen channel the devastation of heartbreak through a filter of sweet synths, lyrical whimsy and vocal stacks with a propulsive beat. It’s giving cabaret-indie-pop. It’s giving sad disco. It’s giving they’ve dyed their hair many new colors.
YIKES was made possible by the Bryan Gallace Posthumous Productions Musician Fellowship, courtesy of SPACE on Ryder farm.
CREDITS
Produced by: Ellen Winter, Chris Littler, Charles Wanless
Engineered by: Ellen Winter & Charles Wanless
Mixed by: Charles Wanless at CRWrecords
Mastered by: Natalie Bibby at Metropolis Studios
Lead vocals: Ellen Winter
Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, Programming: Charles Wanless
Piano, synths, drum programming: Ellen Winter
Violin: Maya Sharpe
Cello: Sydney Torin Shepherd
Additional Instruments by: Chris Littler
Backing Vocalists: Terran Scott Sarah Ivins Alexandria Correa Tsebiyah Derry Kat Rodriguez Hannah Goldman Kirstyn Ballard Marisa V Clementi
YIKES Cover Art
Photos by: Meghan Marshall
Creative directed by: Federica Borlenghi
Makeup: Luisa Galatti
Set/Props: Patricia Marjorie
Grip: Jack Seidenberg
Special thanks
SPACE on Ryder Farm, The Gallace Family, Greenwich House Music School, The Performing Arts Project, Al Piper, Kelly Tieger, A. Sarr, Machel Ross, Nina Grollman, Miranda Haymon, Max Winter, Debbie Winter, Len Winter, Aaron Wishnick, Victoria Wells, James Neiley, Fiona Mahon, Taylor Martin.