Nieve Ella: How Long Will It Take - A Review

Words: Maddie Malone

There is a very refreshing feeling when listening the Nieve Ella’s debut album. Rather than releasing an album that centres around heartbreak or failed relationships entirely, Nieve introduced far more personal experiences. She explores the uncomfortable realties of mental health, self-reflection and a lot of determination to get out of a rut of losing yourself alongside of it.

Opening with ‘101’, Ella sets the tone for what is to come. The short but fitting introduction feels like a preparation for the emotional rollercoaster ahead. This carries straight into the next song ‘Dive’, where a mysterious atmosphere meets an overwhelming desire for independence.

Fuelled by ambition and determination, you can really put yourself in Ella’s shoes when listening. It almost feels like she is using the imagery of driving as a metaphor for taking control of her own life. There is a rebellious streak running throughout the song, from wanting to dress how she pleases to enjoying a night out and going home by herself. Yet underneath the independence lies reassurance. She still craves affection from somebody, just not at the expense of feeling free.

Musically, the album thrives on alt rock influences however, what really caught my attention was the harmonies and ad-libs scattered throughout. The way Ella layers her vocals made me love the tracks even more, giving it the extra details you may just miss, and helping you feel the true emotion behind the lyrics. The instrumentation gives the album the edge, but her vocals bring out the emotion behind it.

‘Standing On A Pane of Glass’ captures the exhausting reality of basically living in fight or flight. You can feel the desperation seething through the track as Ella questions why nobody can recognise her struggles other than herself. The imagery of standing on something so fragile is striking, it feels almost like one wrong move can make everything crash. The intensity of the music feels like an extension of that frustration, with Ella’s anger spilling into the sound itself. The message to keep her head up, resist looking down and simply make it to the end almost feels like Ella reassuring herself that she can get through whatever she's facing.

Then we are hit with ‘Romance Is A Desert’, a track may will already know and love thanks to popularity on TikTok. As a first-time listener to Nieve Ella’s art, this was defiantly the song

made me excited about the fact that an entire album was waiting to be discovered.

Behind its addictive sound, however, lies something much darker. Ella presents romance as an almost inescapable trap, where giving yourself to somebody else eventually leaves you with nothing. It's a clever contrast between a track that's so easy to get lost in musically and lyrics that suggest being lost in love isn't always quite so enjoyable.

But Ella doesn't spend the entire record allowing herself to be consumed by other people. There's a noticeable shift in attitude as that vulnerability begins to turn into anger.

'Bite Back' feels like the moment she's finally had enough. There's no longer the same hesitation or fear of standing up for herself. Instead, we're met with someone who has been pushed to their limit and isn't afraid to show it. It's a defiant change of pace, but what makes it interesting is that Ella doesn't continue down a path of simply blaming everyone around her.

In fact, some of the album's strongest moments come when she turns that frustration inwards.

'At Any Cost' explores the difficult process of recognising your own faults, particularly when your mental health begins affecting the people around you. Ella seems painfully aware that something isn't right, describing a disconnect between herself and the person she sees in the mirror repeatedly

through the song, sending us a reminder of this. That honesty carries through much of the record, with 'Love: Hate' exploring the complicated reality of emotional dependence. It's a slower moment but certainly not an easier listen lyrically. Ella reflects on her own behaviour and the feeling of needing somebody who may never fully understand just how much they mean to her.

The emotional weight of the album becomes even more apparent in 'Angie', where the heavier alt rock sound gives way to something much more mellow. There's an overwhelming sense of longing throughout. The repeated references to the 'other side' introduce a darker sense of uncertainty, almost

suggesting a loss that goes beyond an ordinary breakup. What particularly stands out is the mention of a pair of earrings left behind. Such an insignificant object suddenly carries so much emotional weight, becoming a reminder that even when somebody leaves, traces of them remain.

And while relationships remain part of the story, the album's most interesting moments arguably come from Ella's relationship with herself.

'IM NOT DEAD', the only track title presented entirely in capital letters, immediately demands attention. There's something almost confrontational about it, as though she's reminding both herself and everybody listening that she's still here. The self-reflection continues, but there's also a growing recognition that she knows she needs a getaway.

It's a feeling that feeds naturally into 'Back to Basics', where Ella longs for a time when life felt simpler. There's a desire to return to some version of herself that existed before everything became so complicated. Yet it doesn't feel entirely rooted in nostalgia. There's also a need for self-preservation, an attempt to protect what's left of herself before she loses it completely.

By the time we reach 'How Long Will It Take', there's a real sense of just how exhausting that internal battle has become. Ella explores the frustration of struggling to like the person you are, desperately wanting to change but not knowing how long that process might take.

And perhaps that's what makes the album feel so genuine. There isn't a perfectly packaged resolution waiting at the end. Ella doesn't suddenly have everything figured out, nor does she pretend that recognising your problems automatically makes them disappear.

Throughout the record, we're taken through moments of anger, vulnerability, determination and self-doubt. The alt rock sound gives those emotions room to explode, while the layered harmonies and ad libs add a richness that makes the album just as engaging musically as it is lyrically.

What I particularly appreciate is that Nieve Ella hasn't created a record that relies solely on relationships to tell its story. Yes, love and heartbreak are present, but they're only part of a much

bigger picture. Mental health, personal growth, accountability, and the desire for independence all have their place.

It's an album that recognises how messy figuring yourself out can be. One minute you're ready to fight back against the world, the next you're questioning whether you're part of the problem.