"Paul Simon is a huge inspiration for this record in particular," Ellis told Radio.com. "He consistently has been one of the best songwriters and one of the most experimental and exploratory musicians genre-wise. Every record is completely different than the one before it. So, I looked to him as what I hope to achieve with my career. Not be pinned down by any one thing, but still being massively successful."

Released last month, The Lights from the Chemical Plant is Ellis' third album. And as he explained, many of the 11 tracks came out of personal experiences and his own relationships.