Ellen Hinton, professionally known as Ellen Once Again, is a singer-songwriter, pianist, and music educator whose emotionally driven pop-soul music has earned placements across television, film, and advertising. Known for her warm vocals and strong melodic sensibility, Ellen creates music that connects naturally to visual storytelling.
Her songs have been featured in major television series including Dance Moms, All American, and Shameless, as well as national campaigns for brands such as Hershey’s, Dove, Absolut, and Target. These placements have established her as a trusted independent artist in the sync space, capable of delivering music that is both authentic and adaptable.
In 2025, Ellen released her EP Brand New Day, reflecting themes of renewal and growth, while continuing to write for visual media and artist collaborations. With a background in music education and a Master’s degree in Mass Communication, she brings both creative intuition and strategic awareness to every project.
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YOU GREW UP IN A VERY MUSICAL HOUSEHOLD, STARTING PIANO AT A YOUNG AGE. IS THERE A SPECIFIC LESSON OR PIECE OF MUSICAL 'WISDOM' FROM YOUR FAMILY THAT STILL STICKS WITH YOU TODAY WHEN YOU’RE IN A PROFESSIONAL WRITING SESSION?
I grew up in a home where music was communal and shared, not something we competed over. One lesson that’s stayed with me is to listen first, then add your voice. Whether we were gathered around the piano or just singing together, the focus was always on paying attention to each other, to the emotion in the room, and to how every part fit into the whole.
That instinct guides how I show up in music sessions today, especially when I’m writing songs geared for sync. Before I start throwing out ideas, I listen for what the song is asking for such as the mood, the story, and the space it needs to live in.
It also carries into how I teach music concepts online. I try to meet people where they are, listen to what they’re hearing and feeling, and then help them find their place within the harmony. Whether I’m writing, collaborating, or teaching, that foundation of listening first has shaped how I create and how I connect.
YOU SPENT TIME TEACHING ELEMENTARY MUSIC AND LEADING CHURCH CHOIRS BEFORE FULLY PURSUING YOUR OWN ARTIST CAREER. HOW DID BEING A MENTOR TO YOUNG STUDENTS INFLUENCE THE WAY YOU EVENTUALLY TOOK YOUR OWN ADVICE TO 'CHASE THE DREAM'?
Teaching elementary music and leading church choirs deeply shaped how I understood what it means to “chase the dream.” I spent years encouraging young artists to trust their voices, take creative risks, and show up fully. Whether that meant learning harmonies, understanding music theory, or stepping on stage for the first time in a production or performance.
Over time, I realized that mentoring isn’t just about instruction; it’s about example. I wanted my students to see what it looks like to believe in your gift, to do the work, and to follow the path you keep encouraging others to take. That understanding pushed me to take my own advice seriously.
What’s been especially meaningful is that many of those students are now young adults, and they still find their way back through commenting on my posts, sharing memories from class, and reminding me that the impact lasted beyond the room. In many ways, pursuing my own artist career became an extension of the same calling which is helping people trust their voices, including my own.
YOUR ARTIST NAME IS SO MEMORABLE AND HAS SUCH A CONVERSATIONAL FEEL TO IT. CAN YOU SHARE THE STORY OF HOW YOU LANDED ON 'ELLEN ONCE AGAIN'?
At the time, I realized there were a lot of Ellens online, especially when it came to search and social platforms. I’d perform, tell people where to find me, and then realize they couldn’t actually find me. I was getting lost in the noise.
Somewhere along the way, it became almost a running joke, there goes Ellen once again. It turned into an easy, conversational way for people to remember me. The name stuck because it felt familiar, a little playful, and different enough that people didn’t forget it.
What I love about it now is that it still feels true. It sounds like someone you recognize, someone who keeps showing up, and in a way, that’s exactly what the project has become.
FOR MANY INDEPENDENT ARTISTS, SYNC LICENSING CAN FEEL DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST MAJOR PLACEMENT, AND HOW DID THAT EXPERIENCE CHANGE THE WAY YOU VIEWED THE BUSINESS SIDE OF YOUR MUSIC CAREER?
My first major sync placement was on Toddlers and Tiaras, and I remember how surprising it felt to hear my music in that context. It was one of those moments where the song took on a life of its own, reaching people I never would have imagined that were far beyond my immediate community or audience.
That experience shifted how I understood the business side of music. It didn’t make the art feel smaller; it actually made it feel bigger. I realized that when the business side is handled well, it allows the music to travel further and connect with people in unexpected ways. Sync taught me that art and strategy don’t have to compete. They can work together to help the music reach the places it’s meant to go.
YOU HAVE AN INCREDIBLE TRACK RECORD WITH SYNC PLACEMENTS, FROM DANCE MOMS AND GLEE TO A HERSHEY’S KISS COMMERCIAL. WHEN YOU’RE WRITING, DO YOU INTENTIONALLY THINK ABOUT HOW A SONG MIGHT FIT A VISUAL SCENE, OR DO THESE 'SYNC-ABLE' MOMENTS HAPPEN ORGANICALLY IN YOUR SONGWRITING PROCESS?
When I’m writing with sync in mind, I’m aware of themes and emotional moments that translate well on screen. That said, I never sacrifice my voice. The message is always rooted in my own experience and artistry. I think that’s why the songs end up working visually without feeling manufactured.
A LOT OF ARTISTS FEEL THE PRESSURE TO MAINTAIN A 'PERFECT' IMAGE ONLINE, BUT YOUR CONTENT FEELS INCREDIBLY AUTHENTIC AND APPROACHABLE. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A SONGWRITER WHO IS STRUGGLING WITH THE VULNERABILITY OF PUTTING THEMSELVES OUT THERE ON SOCIAL MEDIA?
I still wrestle with this myself, so I understand the pressure. But we’re living in a time that actually rewards authenticity more than perfection. One of the gifts of social media is that it allows you to speak directly to the people you’re meant to reach. They don’t just hear your songs, they get to see who you really are.
My advice is to start from a place of honesty rather than polish. You don’t have to share everything, but what you do share should be true. When you allow yourself to show up as you are, you attract people who connect with you, not just your highlight reel. Those are the people who want to support you, not because you’re flawless, but because they recognize themselves in you.
Over time, I’ve met incredible people through sharing this way. I’ve met collaborators, listeners, and supporters who resonate with both the music and the person behind it. Vulnerability doesn’t mean oversharing; it means letting your real voice lead. And that’s usually what people are responding to anyway.
MANY ARTISTS FOCUS SOLELY ON THE STREAMS AND LIKES. AS SOMEONE WHO HAS NAVIGATED THE INDUSTRY SUCCESSFULLY, HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE CREATIVE SOUL OF YOUR WORK WITH THE CEO MINDSET REQUIRED TO MANAGE YOUR PUBLISHING AND BUSINESS SIDE OF YOUR MUSIC CAREER?
I still struggle with this, honestly. What’s helped me is giving myself permission to separate the two. I have days when I’m fully in the creative space where I’m writing, playing, and exploring, and I protect that time. Then I have days when I put on the CEO hat and focus on publishing, emails, pitches, and the business side.
I’ve learned that I can’t do both well at the same time, and that’s okay. Creativity needs freedom, while business needs structure. I also don’t try to do everything alone anymore. I’m open to co-writes, collaborations, and getting help where it makes sense, because that support actually allows me to stay creative long-term. For me, the balance is about honoring both so neither one burns the other out.
WHAT’S COMING UP FOR YOU IN 2026? ARE THERE ANY UPCOMING PROJECTS, NEW SONIC DIRECTIONS, OR SPECIFIC GOALS YOU’RE AIMING FOR IN THE NEXT YEAR?
2026 feels like a year of expansion around what I’ve already released. I put out an EP at the end of 2025, and one of my main focuses is continuing to build the visual world and branding around that project, allowing the music to live and grow beyond the initial release.
Creatively, I plan to keep writing and releasing more music throughout the year while giving myself permission to evolve sonically without rushing the process. I’m also honoring my teaching by developing a harmony course, which really comes from the same place as my songwriting, which is connection, emotion, and shared experience. And alongside all of that, I’m committed to staying present with my community and the people who support my music, especially through social media, in a way that feels authentic to who I am as an artist.
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