At just 25, Elle Winter has already lived several lives in music. From being discovered at 14 on Radio Disney’s Next Big Thing, to touring with Chloe x Halle, to releasing her 2020 debut EP Yeah, No (which has since racked up over 30 million streams), Elle has always carried herself with a mix of ambition and vulnerability. Now, with her forthcoming EP Never Even Met Her—arriving August 15 alongside a brand-new music video—she’s stepping into her boldest, most self-assured chapter yet.

Written after a breakup marked by betrayal and distortion, the project finds Elle reclaiming her story. “He created a version of me that didn’t exist—a girl I had never met,” Elle shares. Instead of crumbling under the weight of lies, she transformed the experience into art: an unapologetic body of work that embraces her identity on her own terms.

Working with The Orphanage (the hit-making team behind Lizzo, Demi Lovato, Sabrina Carpenter), Elle carves out a sonic palette that balances glossy pop confidence with raw emotional honesty. If Yeah, No was her empowerment anthem, Never Even Met Her is her manifesto—a cathartic exploration of heartbreak, autonomy, and the power of perspective.

“Help,” her 2023 single produced with Grammy Award winners Autumn Rowe and Kizzo, hinted at this turn inward. The track marked a breaking point for Elle, who admits she once feared asking for support in an industry that often rewards silence over vulnerability. Moving back to LA, she vowed to start a new chapter—one where putting herself first wasn’t just survival, but strength. Never Even Met Her expands on that promise, pairing powerhouse vocals with reflective songwriting that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant.

Beyond the music, Elle continues to balance her artistry with her studies at the University of Pennsylvania, proving her creative and academic worlds can coexist. And while her roots are in New York City—where she began writing and performing as a child—the scope of her vision now extends far beyond.

Named one of People Magazine’s Emerging Artists in 2021, Elle has always had the industry’s attention. But with Never Even Met Her, she doesn’t just have eyes on her—she has her voice firmly intact. Confident, candid, and in control, Elle Winter is no longer defined by what others project onto her. She’s defining herself.

Q: Elle, you’ve been sharing pieces of your story through music since your early teens — how does Never Even Met Her reflect who you are now compared to who you were when Radio Disney named you their “Next Big Thing”?
A: I have grown so much both as an artist and as a person since my early teens. I have a much better sense of who I am, and this self-assuredness and confidence shine through in my new music.  Getting my start in the industry with Radio Disney at such a young age was a fantastic experience, and I have built on the discipline and training provided by the Disney platform to become the artist and person I am today. As I’ve grown older, I have gained many more life experiences to draw from in my music. I now feel freer and more confident to express myself honestly and openly in my storytelling.
Q: The idea of “reclaiming your narrative” is such a powerful through-line of the new EP. How did writing these songs help you process that breakup and rewrite the way you saw yourself?
A: Writing these songs was so cathartic. I went into the sessions for this new project, no longer letting fear dictate my life. I decided to be open and honest in my storytelling, allowing the genuine me to shine through in my music. I had just gone through a lot of changes in my personal life before starting this new project, and I felt free to express myself openly through these songs. This unapologetic energy is truly felt in the latest music.
Q: You worked with The Orphanage again on this EP after Yeah, No. — What keeps drawing you back to them creatively? Did you try anything new in the studio this time?
A: The Orphanage is so incredible, and I feel so grateful to work with them again. They worked on my “Yeah, No” EP with me, and reuniting with them felt like such a homecoming, but also a new chapter as well. They truly bring out the best in me and create such a warm, safe, and comfortable environment where I feel so open and I can be my most authentic self. I love collaborating with them.
Q: Both “Help” and the upcoming EP seem to lean into this theme of finding strength in vulnerability. Was there a moment in your personal life that made you realize being open could be your superpower?
A: There wasn’t one specific moment that made me realize how to find strength in vulnerability; it came from years of wasting so much of my energy trying to control everything around me and working so hard to appear a certain way to the outside world. The time with my family during COVID gave me time to reflect on all of this. I came to realize that controlling how I appeared to others or what people said about me was not a recipe for true happiness and meaningful connections. Not constantly worrying about what others think of me or what they say is empowering and allows me to be my authentic self. This newfound freedom to be me and not take myself so seriously is reflected in what is my most honest and vulnerable music to date.
 
Q: You’ve played some incredible stages already — Today Show, Jingle Ball, touring with Chloe x Halle — but what’s the most personal or surreal moment you’ve had performing your music live?
A: I am grateful to have had the opportunity to perform at so many amazing venues and with so many amazing people. It is always a personal and surreal moment when I can perform live for people who connect to my music. Performing for an audience that sings along, knowing the lyrics to my song, is so exciting for me. Some of the best moments of my career have been when people in the audience come up to me after a show to tell me how one of my songs resonated with them and helped them feel less alone. I am so grateful when this happens because it reminds me of how music is such a wonderful means of connection for people all over the world.
Q: On social media, you connect with fans through both your music and your honesty about what it’s like to grow up in the industry. Has that kind of transparency been healing for you?
A: Growing up in the industry and getting my start at such a young age gave me such a deep sense of purpose.  While of course I feel a stronger sense of self-awareness and confidence as I get older, I think knowing exactly what I wanted and pursuing my dreams at such a young age gave me a strong sense of self and served as a guiding light for me all my life. I have used my social media platform to both stay true to myself and encourage my followers to pursue their dreams, just as I did, wherever it may lead them.
Q: “Never Even Met Her” is such a clever title and concept. Do you remember the exact moment the lyric came to you?
A: I wrote this song after hearing that my ex was spreading false rumors about me and our relationship. I remember writing down a note on my iPhone that said “wow! Tell me more! What did I say next?”  I began poking fun at what he was saying about me and how it was not me he was talking about, but someone I had never even met. Once that thought came to me, I realized what a great concept this would be for a song.
Q: You’ve balanced life as a student at Penn with this chapter of your career. How does being in that environment shape the way you approach your art — and vice versa? 
A: My studies and my artistic pursuits often complement each other. From the concepts I learned in class to the incredible people I met at UPenn, I found my time there really enriched my creative pursuits. I am even working with one of my cinema professors at  UPenn, Scott Burkhardt, on my upcoming music video for “Never Even Met Her.” He is so talented and has been fabulous to collaborate with.
Q: From acting to music, you’ve grown up in the public eye. If you could tell your younger self one thing about this journey, what would it be?
A: I would tell my younger self to trust her instincts and intuition and to remember that no one knows me better than I know myself. My best work creatively will come from trusting myself and what makes me happy. The second song on my upcoming EP, “Better,” addresses this issue. I can’t wait for you to hear it.
Q: Lastly, what’s one thing you hope fans take away from Never Even Met Her when they press play on August 15?
A: I hope fans feel empowered after listening to the song and realize that no one should allow others to put them down or negatively speak about them. I hope “Never Even Met Her” puts a smile on their faces as the humor in the song delivers an important message.