Ella Henderson Begins Her Story With Debut Album ‘Chapter One’

British Recording Artist Ella Henderson may not have finished first in the 2012 season of The X-Factor, but she has clearly decided that the past is just prologue. Henderson is ready to begin telling her own musical story on her own terms with “Chapter One.” Her debut record has already been spinning in the U.K. since October of last year and is now heating up the United States with a January release. Henderson has been writing her own songs since age 13, and she has finally composed a stunning record that demonstrates she is destined for more than fifteen minutes of reality show fame.

Henderson’s first single “Ghost” is just one of many powerful anthems that permit her to display the range and emotion of the voice that took her so far on Simon Cowell’s competitive singing show. Still just 19 years old, her new collection of tracks demonstrate a depth and maturity that resonate with universally felt life experiences, whether it’s about love, faith, or loss. Layer her strong pipes over rich pianos, grand synthesizers, and booming orchestral drums, and it makes for the kind of moving music that the contemplative head sway was made for.

While the United States is still playing catch-up, Henderson has released stand out tracks “Glow” and “Yours” as additional singles for fans across the pond. “Yours” pairs a simple piano accompaniment with the young singer’s steady vocal melody to create a lullaby that is one of the soft points of the typically soaring sound of “Chapter One.” However, it is no less poignant for its mellowing contrast, and allows the record to breathe without halting its emotional flow.

One of Henderson’s most impressive choral feats comes on “Empire,” a beautiful ballad that artfully compares the monumental achievement of building a loving relationship to that of a lasting empire. As the song’s chorus crescendos to its passionate peaks, her voice scales heights easily without losing any strength or volume. In a clever piece of songwriting, the climbing range of her voice adds to the expressiveness of the epic images described in the lyrics. With her career just getting started, it is not hard to imagine Henderson someday being mentioned in the same breath with celebrated predecessors like Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, or Celine Dion.

Henderson closes the album with “Missed,” the original song she performed three years ago in her crowd-pleasing audition that started it all on The X Factor. She wrote the song as an ode to her grandfather who had inspired her love of singing as a child when she used to put on tiny concerts for him in the family’s living room. Touching moments like these gives Henderson’s angelic vocals the gravity and humanity that connects with listeners.

Ella Henderson will be performing a series of shows supporting Take That across the United Kingdom starting in April. Unfortunately, no U.S. dates appear on her schedule at this time. However, given her talent and strong debut with “Chapter One,” it should only be a matter of time until she makes her way over to a growing fan base in The States.

Ella Henderson’s “Chapter One” will release in the United States on Jan. 13, 2015.