“Love Is Not the Antidote to All Your Problems:” The Blissful Melancholy of Dove Ellis’s Blizzard

Dove Ellis is Ireland’s newest great poet, a light to illuminate a vapid and apathetic world. 

Emerging onto the scene with the quiet Bandcamp release of the To The Sandals EP, no one could have predicted the meteoric rise that the young singer-songwriter would experience in 2025. When Geese (another band that skyrocketed to stardom in 2025) announced Ellis as the opener on the Getting Killed tour, he received a tremendous boost in visibility before even putting any music out on streaming (outside of his Bandcamp EP). Murmurs of his powerful, intimate concerts swept through the internet as Ellis released his first few singles on streaming platforms. 

My first exposure to Dove Ellis came early in his fledgling career, when a friend sent me his debut single just a few hours after its release. After listening to this song, “To The Sandals,” I immediately leapt to search for more info about this artist and videos of his concerts. His performances immediately showcased the talent, emotion, vocal power, and command of the stage Ellis uses to draw listeners in. Right away, it  became apparent to me that he has the “it” factor that is so sought after in music and media. 

Then came December’s release of Blizzard, a debut album that will go down as one of the most mature and moving of his generation. Having heard Blizzard, I feel even more confident in the assertion that Dove Ellis will be indie music’s next big thing.

“Real is the word,” Ellis sings on the opening track, “Little Left Hope,” speaking eloquently to the authenticity of his lyrics and deliveries on this project. Blizzard’s lyrics are closer to a collection of poetry from centuries past than any modern record. His words are flush with imagery of Ireland and Great Britain, while telling tales of heartbreak, love lost, and philosophical reflection. The album’s beauty comes from the way Ellis expresses his message; he does not simply tell you what’s going on, but rather creates beautiful pictures with his lyrics that stand on their own, even outside the song’s context. On the closing track, “Away You Stride,” Ellis divulges a story of lovers moving apart from each other. “I saw you in the absence of light,” cries Ellis, expressing his affection for his lover. After describing leaving this lover as sailing away on a great ship, he tells them in finality, “remember me in action, don’t remember me in space.” The track “Love Is,” however, sonically and lyrically stands out on Blizzard. Opening to the fading out of faint strings, Ellis’s voice is accompanied only by soft piano chords as he recites a brief quatrain describing his lover taking their own life. Then, like a bomb, the song opens up as drums and guitars enter, followed promptly by lush vocal harmonies. For the track’s remainder, each line begins with either the phrase “love is” or “love is not.” Ellis tells us that “love is not the antidote to all your problems,” but it may be “your last chance.” There is truly no one writing songs like Dove Ellis right now.

Throughout his album, Ellis develops a sound that blends the heartfelt subtleties of folk music with a strong, welcoming melodic presence. If I were to describe this album in one word, it would be ‘warm.’ From its opening seconds, the record’s atmospheric sounds and delicate strumming invite the listener into a comfortable setting, free of the artificial apathy of an over-produced project. The entire album is self-produced, which helps develop this authentic feel. 

One of the most striking elements of Ellis’s music is his vocals. He has often been compared to the likes of Jeff Buckley and Thom Yorke for his strong, wavering voice and powerful falsetto. Yet, it is also impossible to ignore the role his Irish roots play in his singing. Many of the songs on this album, such as the jaunty, danceable “Jaundice” and the Christmas ballad “It Is A Blizzard,” are reminiscent of traditional Irish folk songs in their vocal harmonies and melodic ideas. Despite this, the album also remains firmly in the modern zeitgeist, drawing inspiration from contemporaries such as Racing Mount Pleasant, Geese, and Black Country, New Road in his lush indie songwriting. 

One common thread throughout this album is the presence of soprano saxophone, a staple of Ellis’s live performances, as the instrument works in perfect harmony with his voice. Each song feels full, having no shortage of additional instruments, including the occasional string section or woodwind, as well as traditional rock band instrumentation. However, these elements are always used tastefully and minimally, never straying from the key strength of this album: Ellis’s vocals and guitar, present at the core of every track. On the final song, “Away You Stride,” Ellis is alone with his guitar, no additional instruments or production. Across its four minute runtime, this song is mesmerizing, highlighting the lyrics, falsetto, and songwriting that make Ellis’s music special. In our complex, ever-changing world, Dove Ellis is a breath of fresh air: a new voice who reminds us of the power of warmth and simplicity, creating one of the best albums of 2025 in the process.

Favorite Tracks: “Away You Stride,” “When You Tie Your Hair Up,” “Pale Song”

Rating: INDY

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Elliot Anderson is a sophomore in the College majoring in Biology and minoring in bird-named artists.