Sophie Michelle Ellis-Bextor (born April 10, 1979) is an English singer and songwriter whose music combines polished pop, disco, house, electronic dance music, and occasional indie and folk influences. Recognized for her cool, poised vocal style and distinctive retro-modern image, she has built a career across both mainstream pop and club music. Her best-known songs include "Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)," "Murder on the Dancefloor," "Take Me Home," "Get Over You," "Mixed Up World," "Catch You," and "Heartbreak (Make Me a Dancer)."
Ellis-Bextor began her professional career in the mid-1990s as the lead vocalist of the London indie band theaudience. The group released its self-titled album in 1998, supported by singles including "I Know Enough (I Don't Get Enough)" and "A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed." Although theaudience attracted attention for its stylish, literate pop-rock, plans for a second album were abandoned after the band was dropped by its label. The group split in 1999, leaving Ellis-Bextor to pursue opportunities in dance music.
Her breakthrough came in 2000 when she provided vocals for Italian DJ and producer Spiller's "Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)." The track became a major international hit and reached number one in the United Kingdom. Ellis-Bextor's poised delivery gave the club production a memorable pop identity, establishing her as a singer who could move comfortably between alternative pop and the dance floor.
Ellis-Bextor's first solo album, Read My Lips, arrived in 2001. Built around disco, house, and electronic pop, it reached number two on the UK Albums Chart and produced several major singles. "Take Me Home," a reinterpretation of Cher's disco hit, introduced her solo persona, while "Murder on the Dancefloor" became her signature song. Co-written with Gregg Alexander, the song paired an elegant, upbeat arrangement with a slyly competitive lyric. Its music video, directed by Sophie Muller, presented Ellis-Bextor as a determined contestant in a dance competition and helped define the visual character of her early solo work.
The albums Shoot from the Hip (2003) and Trip the Light Fantastic (2007) developed her dance-pop sound. The latter included "Catch You," "Me and My Imagination," and "Today the Sun's on Us," and reached number seven in the United Kingdom. She also continued to work with producers and dance acts, including the Freemasons, with whom she recorded "Heartbreak (Make Me a Dancer)" in 2009.
Her fourth album, Make a Scene (2011), emphasized club-oriented electronic pop and collaborations. With Wanderlust (2014), Ellis-Bextor moved in a more organic and song-focused direction, drawing on folk, orchestral pop, and cinematic arrangements. The album reached number four in the United Kingdom and marked an important change in her artistic presentation. She followed it with Familia (2016), The Song Diaries (2019), an orchestral reworking of songs from across her career, and Hana (2023), which returned to a more expansive pop sound.
During the 2020 lockdown period, her informal online "Kitchen Disco" performances became a popular recurring event, later leading to radio programs and live releases. The renewed visibility also introduced her music to a new audience. In late 2023 and early 2024, "Murder on the Dancefloor" experienced a major revival after appearing in Emerald Fennell's film Saltburn. The song returned to the UK Top 10 and became Ellis-Bextor's first entry on the Billboard Hot 100.
Her eighth studio album, Perimenopop, was released in September 2025. Returning to disco and house influences while addressing new stages of adult life, it reached number five in the United Kingdom. Ellis-Bextor's career is notable for its longevity and adaptability: rather than abandoning her dance-pop identity, she has repeatedly reshaped it through different production styles, visual concepts, and songwriting approaches.