Biography

Ellen Pels is a jazz singer-songwriter with a soulful, distinctive sound she calls Spiri Jazz: jazzy melodies paired with lyrics inspired by spirituality, self-awareness, and living from the heart. With her warm voice, personal songs, and authentic presence, she creates music that moves, uplifts, and inspires.

Wouter Hamel: “Lovely voice, dare I say slightly husky. Deep and warm, quite theatrical.”

Bertolf Lentink: “Ik ben zo fan van jouw stem!”

Becca Stevens: “You are such a beautiful talent! love the vibe of the tunes, and the beautiful tone and confidence of your voice.”

Gijs Anders van Straalen: “Een goede zangeres, geweldige band, én toffe composities is een combinatie die je maar zelden ziet.”

Becca Stevens: “You are such a songstress. The way you crafted the lyric and the harmony is so beautiful, it feels like it belongs in a modern day Great American Songbook.”

Ellen Pels (1960) is a Dutch jazz singer-songwriter with a distinctive musical identity she describes as Spiri Jazz: jazz-inspired melodies combined with lyrics rooted in spirituality, self-awareness, and personal growth. With her warm, soulful voice and authentic stage presence, she brings together music and meaning in a way that is both intimate and uplifting.

Dragonflies, Late Bloomer (2015)

Music has always been a constant in Ellen’s life. She developed her voice not only as a singer, but also through her work as a speech and language therapist. A serious illness in 2010 became a turning point, prompting her to fully embrace her artistic calling and devote herself to singing, songwriting, and performing.

After intensive artistic coaching from Juyla Lo’ko, Robin van Beek, Michelle Splietelhof, and Mathilde Santing, Ellen began writing her own songs in 2014. That same year, she released the single Dragonflies, followed by her debut album Late Bloomer in 2015 on her own label, LLL Zingt. The album immediately established her signature style: layered jazz, unexpected harmonies, and songs with emotional and spiritual depth.

Happiness (2017), Love (2019), Peace (2020)

In the years that followed, she expanded her body of work with the EP trilogy Happiness (2017), Love (2019), and Peace (2020), exploring themes of joy, love, and inner peace. Her release concerts—featuring, among others, a string quartet and a nine-piece band—highlight her versatility as both a performer and songwriter.

From A to B (2021)

With From A to B (2021), Ellen broadened her musical horizon once again. For this album, she composed several big band pieces, recorded live at Wisseloord Studios with the Stageband Jazz Orchestra. The collaboration later continued in newly written and arranged repertoire for concerts and recordings, resulting in the release of the album Stageband Jazz Orchestra Featuring Ellen Pels (2025)

Stageband Jazz orchestra Featuring Ellen Pels (2025)

Ellen is currently working on het last album Probably The Last Time. Release: May 28th 2027 in Odeon Zwolle

Ellen Pels creates music that resonates, inspires, and connects. With her unique blend of jazz, spirituality, and personal expression, she has carved out a distinctive place within the Dutch jazz and theatre music and comedy scene.

Ellen is currently writing her farewell album “Probably the Last Time”. The release will be on may 28th in Odeon, Zwolle.