HANNAH ELLIS - Once - Curb Records

Following her hotly received debut LP, That Girl, which featured smash singles “Wine Country,” “Us,” “Somebody Else,” and “Too Much and Not Enough,” ACM New Female Artist of the Year nominee Hannah Ellis is now offering the first look at her next chapter.

Her latest single “Once” is available today on all digital and streaming platforms.

Co-written by Ellis with Nick Wayne, Jason Duke, and Jason Massey, the instant moodiness that surrounds the melodic aura of the intro immediately spotlights a new territory that showcases her willingness to swerve the norms while masterfully still retaining the edges of familiarity within her pop country signatures.

Built by what feels like design, she instrumentally continues to fan the flames building within the undertone of the lyrics while using each of the verses to paint the vibrant picture of her personality traits, tallying that she’s Kentucky sweet just like her mama, a Jesus lover who ain’t into drama, someone who keeps her honest word, and a daddy’s girl who has been taught to forgive but never forget.

However, boiling over the surface level she arrives at a feisty, unapologetic warning to her potential suitor that sees her tilting vocally into the perspective of a women who’s had her heart broken, standing brashly up front and center about what will happen should he choose to leave his boots under another someone’s bed:

“You'll only do it once

If you ever mess around, mess it up, done

If you want sympathy won't be none

And you'll find

The first time'll be the last time

No coming back

Boy understand

Won't be no second chance

If you break my heart in two, I promise you

You'll only do it once”

Not so much angry in her tonality, but fiery confident in who she is and what expectations she holds if she hands you her heart, Hannah Ellis crafts a song in “Once” that excitingly evolves the characteristics of her sound in a slight redefinition of who she is.

Couple that very intriguing attribute with an undeniable anthem of self-worth that speaks right to the heart of knowing who you are and how you deserve to be treated, and the rising country star opens her next chapter with an insatiable vibe that pulls you to the edge of your seat while keeping you yearning for what comes next.

(Review Written By: Jeffrey Kurtis)