UK singer/songwriter Ellur launches a powerful, cathartic anthem with “Missing Kid,” an indie rock song that confronts self-doubt, identity struggles, and the pain of maturing. In an interview with Atwood Magazine, the Halifax-born emerging artist discusses her deepest insecurities and quest for connection, providing insight into the raw honesty and vibrant energy that fuels her music today.
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Listen: “Missing Kid” – Ellur
There’s a palpable ache in Ellur’s “Missing Kid” that resonates deep within: an intense surge of indie rock that encapsulates the overwhelming sensation of striving to stay afloat, composed, and moving forward. “This sinking feeling, I know it so well,” the Halifax-raised songwriter shares in her passionate anthem – yet as despair descends, vitality intensifies. That one line alone strikes deeply, and the entire song continues to deliver impactful moments: it’s grand, bold, and profoundly vulnerable, featuring dramatic guitars, a breathtaking and rousing chorus, and a cathartic experience that makes you feel vibrantly alive even as it breaks your heart.
“Missing Kid” was released on July 16 via Dance To The Radio, marking Ellur’s first single of 2025 and the dawn of a new chapter for the promising British artist (born Ella McNamara). The track serves as a stark, honest reflection on the burdens of adulthood and the identity struggles associated with one's early twenties, expanding on the confessional brilliance of last year’s God Help Me Now EP. It showcases her innate ability to combine impactful lyrics with unabashedly explosive indie rock sounds. Produced by Joel Johnston (Far Caspian), the song was released amidst a busy summer of festival appearances and sold-out tour dates across the UK, further solidifying Ellur’s place as one of the most intriguing new voices in British indie.
For Ellur, “Missing Kid” functions as a form of self-affirmation and personal sonic therapy. “I wrote it while preparing for a support tour I did last November when I felt a bit self-critical and down,” she explains to Atwood Magazine. “I had the impression that I’d spent my life mimicking others and seeking their guidance on how to live. I needed a song that would uplift me.”
And she certainly created one – it’s an undeniable hit. From the first verse (“I’ve studied you, relentlessly… I go with the flow ‘til I drown”) to that heart-wrenching hook (“Look like I’m healing, I’m going through Hell”), “Missing Kid” strikes a chord and leaves a lasting impression. It serves as a call for those who feel lost, who seem like outsiders in their own bodies – a fierce, shimmering confrontation with shame, self-doubt, and the daunting task of attempting to sort it all out while maintaining a facade of composure.
“I’ve warned you to no avail,” Ellur admits. “It’s like biting my tongue; my teeth keep falling out. Every dream I have, I end up the fool. There’s a hero I’ve been searching for in a fictional world where I can’t keep being let down.”
Ellur remarks, “I find that life sometimes presents me with situations that make me feel like a child who’s lost their mom in a grocery store. That’s essentially what this song represents for me right now. It’s about how I perceive those around me; I occasionally feel as though I’m just imitating everyone else because I don’t know what I’m ‘supposed to’ do... It’s also about wanting to move and getting the crowd energized when we play it live. I love performing it.”
This sinking feeling
I know it so well
Look like I’m healing
I’m going through Hell
For you I’m kneeling and kicking myself
That dichotomy of longing and release, fear and freedom, runs through every part of “Missing Kid.” You can sense her internal struggles beneath the fiery guitars, yet it’s all presented with a lively energy that lifts you even when the themes pull you down. “It’s panic, depression, and shame,” Ellur describes the song’s core emotion, “but I’m adept at concealing it, haha.”
Yet here she is, laying it all bare – exposing her inner world in a way that creates space for others to feel less alone. “I want listeners to hear it and think, ‘that’s how I feel!’” she expresses. “That’s typically my aim with any music release. Whenever I perform live, I look for a moment to connect with someone in the audience, making eye contact to sense their understanding. It’s fascinating to connect with people I’ve never met without even speaking. It’s truly magical.”
With this track, that magic is undeniable. “Missing Kid” represents music at its most emotionally genuine and sonically exhilarating – a phenomenal, standout
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UK singer/songwriter Ellur delivers an intense and cathartic experience with her track “Missing Kid,” a compelling indie rock anthem that explores themes of self-doubt, identity, and the struggles of transitioning into adulthood. In an interview with Atwood Magazine, the Halifax-born rising star shares her deepest anxieties and her quest for connection, providing insight into the raw honesty and vibrant energy that fuels her music today.