Ella Henderson’s latest single “Take Care Of You” is a euphoric ode to solidarity and selflessness during tough times.

Henderson has been frank about her mental health struggles and she’d been looking for a way to convey her journey through song. Along came acclaimed songwriter and singer Julia Michaels, who’s herself penned and recorded a number of successful tunes over the years. Both these ladies have a distinctive, confident sound that they blend in perfect harmony through this feature. Ella Henderson has one of the most evocative, resounding voices in the contemporary music scene but Julia Michaels’ songwriting has always been about the subtle but powerful notes. She excels in incorporating the soft touches of pain and vulnerabilities; in her world, the silences speak much louder than the words. 

Yet the two of them are able to find common ground with “Take Care Of You.” Genre-wise, it’s as contemporary pop as it can get, but the synth does add an electro-dance feel to the proceedings. Henderson normally opts for compositions with soaring choruses and diverse melodies, but here she reigns it in with aplomb. The chorus is light but spirited, and Henderson lets the elaborate production of the strings, the bass, and the percussion work its magic. The piano also keeps chiming in the background, but it’s the occasional dashes of the strings that allow this track to strike an emotional chord. The bridge of the composition has Henderson belt it out over a dramatic, sweeping melody that delves into both reflections and realizations.  Exhilarating, striking, emotionally-rich, there is just something about this tune’s approach that works to find the silver lining without being overly saccharine or over-the-top. 

The accompanying video has obviously been put together during quarantine but the retro computer formats on display will send everyone down their own memory lane. Speaking on what this song means to her, Henderson said, “This song is for everyone I love, as well as a message of self-care – a personal reminder to look after myself, both mentally and physically. It was a time when I was quite down, but a great song came out of it.”

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Author: Shaoni Das

Shaoni Das is a writer/editor currently based in Edmonton, Canada. She remains eager to inspect how the changing culture of music impacts upon the greater world.