Ella Beyer Finds Strength in Vulnerability with New Single Crime to Be Happy

By Robert White, Editor-In-Chief

Ella Beyer has already crafted a sound that carries the weight of wisdom and the raw ache of heartbreak. With her new single Crime to Be Happy set for release on May 14, the Los Angeles-born singer-songwriter continues to solidify her voice as one of emotional clarity, poetic depth, and melodic grace.

The ambient ballad opens with breathy instrumentation—pedal steel guitar, warm synth pads, and Ella’s haunting vocals—before unfolding into a fully realized arrangement that swells with cinematic ache. The track explores grief in the wake of betrayal, as Beyer sings, “I wish it was a crime to be happy,” lamenting the unjust emotional fallout of infidelity. Through waves of self-reflection and emotional release, she lands not in bitterness, but in a quietly powerful state of acceptance.

“I wrote this song during a really emotional time,” Beyer explains. “It’s about being so heartbroken that you can’t bear the idea of the other person moving on and being happy—especially when you’re the one left holding the pain. It’s a really vulnerable song, and I think a lot of people will understand that feeling.”

The track was written in 2023, initially sparked by a set of chords borrowed from Radiohead’s My Iron Lung. But what began as an inspired jam session quickly turned into one of Beyer’s most emotionally potent compositions to date. “I had this giant list of common phrases that I hadn’t seen used in songs yet,” she said. “When I got to ‘crime to be happy,’ it stuck. It felt like something people say offhand, but I wanted to flip it and show the depth that can hide behind a casual line.”

Signed to Winding Way Records at just 17, Ella Beyer blends the sophistication of Carole King and the lyrical intimacy of Ingrid Michaelson. Her previous singles, including Oxygen, have explored themes of self-awareness and emotional restlessness. “I was in this phase of life where I kept booking flights and running from myself,” she said of Oxygen. “Eventually, I realized that no matter where I went, I couldn’t outrun what I was feeling.”

Beyer’s music speaks directly to those in transition—whether it’s heartbreak, self-discovery, or simply growing up. She’s not afraid of the in-between spaces. In fact, she writes from them.

Her upcoming EP, set to drop later in 2025, promises more of the same lyrical honesty and dreamy, genre-blurring textures that fans are beginning to associate with her sound. And while her resume already includes performances at iconic California venues like The Mint, Hotel Café, and House of Blues, Beyer is eyeing a mini tour this summer, with plans to hit stages in Nashville and New York.

She’s also wrapping up her degree in songwriting at the Los Angeles College of Music, continuing a lifelong education in the craft—one that began in a home filled with rhythm and melody. Her father, a touring drummer for artists like Christopher Cross and Loggins & Messina, and her mother, a published songwriter with credits on shows like Dawson’s Creek, raised Ella in a world where music was both a passport and a lifeline.

“Growing up, I saw music bring people together all over the world—regardless of language or culture,” Beyer reflects. “That’s what I want to do. I want people to hear my songs and feel like someone gets them.”

With Crime to Be Happy, Ella Beyer offers a mirror for anyone who’s ever suffered in silence, a voice for those tangled in grief and grace—and a reminder that vulnerability is its own kind of power.

“Crime to Be Happy” is out May 14 on all streaming platforms via Winding Way Records. Learn more at ellabeyermusic.com.

Listen to the full interview with Ella Beyer on The Savoir Faire Audio Experience.