Album Review: "PRETTY EVIL" - Ellise
- Karlee Skipper
- Apr 8
- 7 min read
PRETTY EVIL by Ellise via Genius Lyrics
Ellise has been one of my favorite artists to watch these past few years. As a lover of all things dark and mysterious, I fell in love with her music the moment I heard “Nightmares” (which was featured in my Top 13 Spooky Songs for Halloween article). When she announced her latest album, PRETTY EVIL, I marked my calendar for my most anticipated project of 2025. The album explores the dark side of relationships, from infatuation and desire to manipulation and betrayal. Elise holds nothing back, making PRETTY EVIL my latest obsession— and my most-played album of March despite only being released 3 days before April.
Track List
PRETTY
committed for life
cherry on top
leech
dead2me
feel better together
dead girl dreaming
runaway bride
ballerina
bite
valentine
EVIL
About Ellise
Ellise is a dark-pop singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles. She moved to the area at 17 to pursue her career. Since then, she has made incredible waves in the industry. In just her first year, she was selected for the UPROXX Uncharted series to work with producer Chris Seefried to craft her first single, “Break Down.” The same year, she was a finalist in the 2016 iHeartRadio Rising Star Competition. In 2018, she released her debut EP, Can You Keep A Secret? In 2021, she released her debut album, Chaotic. She has collaborated with artists such as Iggy Azalea, Savage Ga$p, and my personal favorite, Mothica, and DeathbyRomy, in a remix of Ellise’s song, “Soul Sucker.” With two full-length albums and two Eps, Ellise is known best for her haunting dark pop and Halloween-themed tracks that fuel the inner dark side of listeners. Follow her on all socials to stay up to date with new music and announcements!
PRETTY
Ellise immediately sets the tone for the album with the lead track, “PRETTY.” The song starts off slow and soft with a shimmering instrumentation that emulates a fairytale. Almost abruptly, the song switches to a heavy and mysterious soundscape paired with Ellise’s dark imagery. This instrumental change exemplifies the lyricism of “PRETTY.” The track starts with Ellise describing her “little fantasy” with her muse, dreaming of white picket fences and marriage before “the sweetest whispers turn to screams,” and her whimsical fantasy is shattered. This clever production is the perfect start to a witty and complex album.
committed for life
“committed for life” is an infectious pop track about Ellise’s overwhelming obsession with her latest muse. She is pining over them, spending all her time thinking about making him hers. Throughout the song, she utilizes witchcraft imagery to paint this dark picture, including lyrics such as “I carved our initials in the wall // Then kissed your voodoo doll,” and “Lock of hair, I’ll add it to the alter.” Then, in the chorus, she confidently tells her subject to make her his ride or die. Just like her romantic interest, Ellise has successfully mesmerized her listeners and made them “committed for life.”
cherry on top
Ellise continues the album with a dark story of co-dependence and toxicity. From a brief overview, “cherry on top” appears to be a sweet track about her subject being the only person able to pull her from the brink. However, as she continues through, it is revealed that, while he can calm her, he is also the reason for her insanity. Ellise sprinkles in lyrics of toxicity, revealing that he makes her pain his pleasure. He seems to thrive on her mental anguish, getting off on the control he has. The song has an angelic atmosphere accentuated by the singer’s stunning vocals. This soundscape symbolizes Ellise’s constant romanticizing of this grim relationship.
leech
“leech” takes a complete turn from the previous tracks. While the past few songs show a glimmer of hope and blind optimism, Ellise declares her muse as an awful person. She admits that he is a freak, a creep, a leech. Someone who gets off on her misery and enjoys watching her mental health deteriorate. The production enhances this with the fiery instrumentation and Ellise’s passionate vocals, making the track an instant fan favorite. “leech” is for anyone who has been taken advantage of – whether it’s a romantic partner, a friend, or a toxic boss. Ellise makes her listeners feel seen while performing a cathartic experience for herself.
dead2me
My favorite track on PRETTY EVIL is the angsty, sassy song, “dead2me.” Ellise admits that her ex-partner cheated on her with a red-headed woman. Now, she wants her revenge. In the pre-chorus, she sings, “Let’s lay this to rest tonight // Said you’d die for me,” before her blunt voice casually says, “So do it.” Then, the song switches to the infectious dark-pop chorus that utilizes funeral and death imagery to emphasize this message. My favorite genre of music is hot women killing men for their wrongdoings. Just from the title alone, I knew “dead2me” would be my favorite song, and Ellise did NOT disappoint.
feel better together
“feel better together” feels more of an interlude that transitions the album from the anger of “dead2me” to the desperation of “dead girl dreaming.” The song lulls the listener into a sense of false security with the heavenly vocals and soft instrumentation. However, Ellise sings to her subject, admitting they are no longer a perfect fit. They once thought they were soulmates, but she knows it is a lost cause. They are taking too much energy to keep this love alive, and they should just let it expire. It is a heartbreaking notion that is all too real – sometimes relationships just can’t work out even if the love is still there.
dead girl dreaming
The album kicks back up with the electrifying “dead girl dreaming.” The song continues with the theme of a toxic relationship. The type that is one-sided, leaving Ellise pleading for even a shred of the respect she deserves. In the chorus, she admits, “I’d pick you even if you’re poison // Run to you, past every warning // Oh, I’m a dead girl dreaming // That you can breathe me to life.” She is aware that he is giving her the runaround but is hoping that he will surprise her in the end. The production has a dark, whimsical soundscape that leaves listeners begging for more. With this instrumentation, “dead girl dreaming” has been one of the songs that remains on a constant loop in my head.
runaway bride
“runaway bride” is another one of my top favorite tracks on PRETTY EVIL. Being second only to “dead2me” is ironic due to the juxtaposition of the wedding imagery in this song to the funeral imagery in the previous track. Both occur in chapels. Both are led by a priest. And both songs paint vivid pictures of the story. However, “runaway bride” returns to the narrative of a toxic relationship that Ellise continues to return to. She is willing to sacrifice anything for them, burning any bridge in her path. Nothing will stop her from being with them. The production contains a fast tempo that complements the lyrics, transporting the listener into the high-stakes situation.
ballerina
“ballerina” is another instant fan favorite with its hauntingly beautiful production and mesmerizing lyrics. The song describes the feeling of Ellise giving all of herself, sacrificing her own comfort and happiness to make the subject feel better. A ballerina is a perfect metaphor for this. These graceful dancers hide their pain in the perfect pointe shoes with their heads held high to perform an elegant show for the audience. Ellise is undergoing similar pain, putting her subject first before her needs. Furthermore, she reveals that the only words coming out of their mouth are, “Ballerina, won’t you dance for me? // Lost her head but, God, it’s perfect // Ballerina, baby, can’t you see? // It’ll kill you, but it’s worth it.” Ellise admits she knows this person is using her for their gain, yet she cannot seem to stop dancing for them. The song is as classy yet brutal as the majestic sport.
bite
Another dark-pop anthem that immediately catches the attention of listeners. The song utilizes Biblical imagery, which has been found in other tracks on PRETTY EVIL. Just like Eve in the Garden of Eden, Ellise has taken a bite of the forbidden fruit – her romantic interest. She knows that he is bad for her, but she would “die” just to take another bite of him. The heavy production effortlessly blends with this imagery, making it a wonderful song about sin, lust, and desire. With "bite," Ellise has once again perfected the eerie soundscape with her infectious vocals that fans initially fall in love with.
valentine
“valentine” is directly connected to “dead2me,” a poetic continuation of the electrifying anthem. While the first song is a heavy dark-pop track about destroying her cheating ex, “valentine” is a soothing ode to the other woman. Ellise knows that it is neither of the girls’ fault – he played them both. She finds it strange that they look nothing alike; Ellise is the moon, and the other girl is the sun. The connection between the two songs is even more apparent when she says, “Your hair shines redder than wine,” alluding to the red hair in the bathroom sink of “dead2me.” Ellise showcases the heartbreak and defeat she feels with her stunning vocals and vulnerable lyrics, making “valentine” the most devastating song on the album.
EVIL
Ellise closes the album with the perfect track. “EVIL” admits that they are both to blame as she sings, “I never wanted it to get so evil // We turned each other into vicious people.” However, she continues, “This heartache left me bloodstained // Made me lethal.” Her subject’s behavior turned her into this person she does not recognize – someone who wishes for death and revenge. The instrumentation returns to the harmonic intro of “PRETTY,” beautifully wrapping the album into a neat bow and making it a natural transition back to the beginning.
PRETTY EVIL is a skipless album with songs for anyone, from devastating ballads to fiery anthems. Her angelic vocals pair well with the haunting production, making the album the perfect well-rounded project. The first track, “PRETTY,” and the final track, “EVIL,” create perfect bookends, tying the entire album together in one cohesive package. Ellise has ensured that PRETTY EVIL will be on the top of every listener’s Spotify Wrapped and Apple Replay. As someone who lives for this style of music and aesthetics, Ellise brought her A-game and has set impossible standards for 2025’s music.
Written By Karlee Skipper
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