Elliot James Reay is a 23-year-old British singer and songwriter from Manchester, renowned for reviving the groovy timeless sounds of 1950s rock 'n' roll. Drawing inspiration from rock legends like Elvis Presley and Roy Orbison, Reay’s music has captivated millions worldwide after breaking through on TikTok which led to his most recent UK tour SELLING OUT in less than 24 hours. His entry point to thousands of ForYou Pages started by Reay covering songs in his bedroom. Gaining traction, this transformed into the artist writing and releasing his own music. Several of these original tracks grew to massive popularity and were mistakenly thought to be Elvis covers, some of which include hits like: “ I Think They Call This Love” and “Who Knew Dancing Was a Sin.” Both tracks are original Reay compositions paying tribute to the Gracelandesque melodies of the 1950s. The song’s craftsmanship is so authentic to the decade, that it’s entirely understandable why some audiences presumed it was plucked straight from a Presley catalog. Elliot revealed to Bell Music that one of the ways he channels the true essence of the 1950s is by writing every song in the same fashion as the legends of the decade: Melody first. “It’s always the melodies. I’ve been reflecting on the late Brian Wilson and everything he wrote was melody first which is what I try to do.” Another key component to how the artist brings a revived feel to his recordings is by melding traditional 1950s melodic patterns with modernized recording techniques to give his music an Elvis feel with a modernized commercial appeal.
Beyond the viral fame which began with an audience fixated on Elliot’s blue suede vocal tone, what sets his music apart from the brief moments of virality TikTok has paved the way for, is that Reay possesses a clear identity as an artist and has found middle ground by balancing his life, love, and authenticity with the romantic nostalgia of 1950’s rock. During the °1824 held conference, Bell Music Magazine asked the singer “ Your music and image have a timeless feel that captures old-school romance, are there any relationships in your life that inspire that caliber of songwriting, or does your music primarily channel the essence of romance as we know it from 1950s media?” The simplest answer is that it’s 1 part real and 1 part fantasy. The singer revealed they were writing a lot of these songs about their partner during COVID so there was a lot of old school vivid fantasy incorporated due to the fact they couldn’t be physically together, so a lot of what he was writing about were things he was wanting to experience with his current relationship that he now gets to. Elliot’s writing, recording, and hitting the road and shows no sign of slowing down. His debut EP was released on June 27th, 2025. Bell Music Magazine got an exclusive listen to a single featured on the EP titled “Sweetness.” This track holds all the tenderness of Stephen Sanchez’s “Until I Found You” with a twist of Elvis’s most famous record “Can’t Help Falling in Love With You.” This record is bound to end up on every wedding playlist for the foreseeable future of first dances.
- Isabella Ellis
