Ella Marisa Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music has another visitor! Ella Marisa has a few recent songs in her catalog that you should be streaming. I was so glad that she was willing to visit with us to discuss the songs, and a bit more. I'm sure you'll love what she had to say.

So, let's see what happens when Ella Marisa visits Section 36 Music!

Your recent single, “PLOT,” is incredible—it feels like a burst of pure energy. What’s the story behind it?
“PLOT” is so much more than just a song to me—it’s a snapshot of how I live my life and the friendships that shaped me. My friends and I thrive on chaos, in the best way possible. We’d run on an hour of sleep, because we danced all night in some club, fuelled up on three espressos, and somehow still choose the most ridiculous, reckless idea—just to have a story to tell our future kids. Our motto was simple: ‘the stupider, the better.’
One summer, my best friend and I had this running joke where we’d say, “Let’s do it for the PLOOOT!” about everything. Honestly, it got annoying really fast, but that ended up being the best summer of our lives. That carefree, wild, joy-filled energy is exactly what I wanted to capture in “PLOT.” It’s a reminder that life isn’t meant to be all work and checklists—it’s about being present, laughing until your stomach hurts, and creating the kind of memories that keep you alive.

Like your single “Cigarettes,” you released “PLOT” in multiple versions. What inspired that approach?
“Cigarettes” was actually my first-ever release, and I was in full creative experimentation mode—figuring out my sound, my style, and who I wanted to be as an artist. The original version was fun to write but tough to imagine performing live, so we slowed it down. Then I had this moment of realization: why not speed it up too? Why not give listeners the same emotion in different energies? That decision kind of set a precedent for me. Music doesn’t have to live in just one version; it can shapeshift to match different moods and moments.

If you could cover any Disney song, which would you choose?
“Love is an Open Door” from Frozen will always have a special

place in my heart. I used to watch that movie all the time with my little cousins, so it carries this sense of nostalgia and warmth for me. Beyond being funny and heartwarming, the song has this incredible message that love is about openness, trust, and choosing connection over fear or judgment. It’s playful on the surface, but at its core, it’s encouraging everyone—kids and older kids aka adults—to lead with love instead of hate, to be vulnerable, and to see love as something unconditional and magical. That’s why it resonates with me so deeply; that same energy of joy and openness is what I want to bring into my own music and how I try to live my life.

Who are your biggest musical inspirations?
Charli XCX—no question. I’ve been obsessed with her music since I first heard “Superlove” in How to Be Single back in 2016. Then “Boom Clap” in The Fault in Our Stars sealed the deal. And of course, “I Love It” with Icona Pop was everywhere—it felt like her sound was the soundtrack of an entire generation. ALl these songs were my jam as a teenager, but I never knew the artist. Years later, one of my professors brought her name up, and everything just clicked. I remember sitting in class and was like "I LOVE HER MUSIC SOO MUCH" - obviously, I was way too loud and disturbed class as usual. She’s been such a huge influence on me ever since, not just as a songwriter and artist but as a person who’s unapologetically herself.

I’m also a massive INJI fan. I found her on TikTok, and she’s been a huge inspiration for her sonic choices. It is not pop, it's not electronic. It is just confident self-expression over sick beats! The way she performs writes music is just incredibly special to me. It connects with me on a deeper level, just like CharliXCX's music does. I can't await her new upcoming music. 

What’s been the most challenging part of your music career so far?

Honestly? Learning how to tune out the noise. There’s so much unsolicited advice—so many “you shoulds” thrown your way, so much hate—and it can really mess with your confidence. It took me a long time to trust myself. Now I know that when I feel confident and aligned with my choices, that’s when my music connects most. People will always have opinions, but what they truly want is to hear your voice—not a version of you that’s been watered down by other people’s expectations. 

And then hate. Hate is something I feel strongly about addressing, even though I wouldn’t say it’s been a personal “challenge” in the traditional sense. We live in a world where hate is thrown around so casually, almost like words don’t carry weight anymore. Social media has made it easy for people to hide behind user ID;s and say things they’d never say face-to-face. Recently, I got a taste of that myself. Luckily, I’ve built enough confidence to not let it sink in too deeply—but I can’t help but think about the people who might not have that same resilience.

That’s why I think we all need to be more intentional about the energy we put into the world, especially online. Words can leave lasting scars, even if we don’t see the damage right away. For me, it’s about breaking that cycle—choosing empathy over judgment, kindness over cruelty. At the end of the day, music and art are about connection, not division, and I hope my work can remind people of that.

What’s next for you? Any big goals for the near future?
2025 and 2026 are going to be huge years for me. I’ve got new music on the way, a full album in the works, and I’m training to bring my live performances to the next level. Playing festivals is my ultimate dream right now—I want to share my music with a crowd, feel that energy, and create those unforgettable moments on stage. My new song ToyBoy will be released sometime this September! I am SO excited! 

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I bet we can all relate with those chalenges!

As always, I want to thank Ella for visiting with us, and for sending along the pictures to accompany the interview. 

I'm sure you’ll all want to follow her and see what she has going on and what those next steps will be. I would follow her on Instagram and Spotify to make sure you don't miss a thing. 

Thanks again, Ella, and good luck reaching your goals!