ENGLISH Ella Eyre who plays Southampton Guildhall on Tuesday, November 3 told the Daily Echo she is “gutted” after England crashed out of the Rugby World Cup.

The Brit Award-winning singer-songwriter released England’s official Rugby World Cup 2015 – her version of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, which she also performed at the Wear The Rose Live event at The O2.

All proceeds from the single have been going towards supporting England Rugby’s All Schools programme, supported by principle partner CBRE, which seeks to introduce rugby to state secondary schools.

Prior to the event she said she was "so proud to be singing Swing Low and getting behind the team in a World Cup year on home soil,” adding: “I am really looking forward to helping bring the whole nation behind the England team. It’s inspiring to see the levels of support for the players and we’re raising money for a great cause.”

But after their defeat at the hands of Wales Ella, 21, said she was most disappointed that England’s early exit would mean less children would be inspired to take up rugby.

“I’m gutted! The idea behind making the record was to raise money for charity and encourage rugby playing in schools for people that are not exposed to rugby is state schools," she said.

"I went to a boarding school where rugby was definitely a thing but most people aren’t as lucky."

Despite the disappointment Ella has plenty to be excited about; her tour this November follows the release of her hugely anticipated debut album, Feline.

Feline is the musings, thoughts and feelings of a young woman living and loving life, even when the going gets tough. And it’s as effervescent as Eyre’s own mane of leonine hair.

Ella said: “This is my third headline tour which will be amazing as I hadn’t released an album before – and half of it has sold out already. The last time I came to Southampton was to play the university, in the middle of a car park, so I’m really looking forward to coming back."

Certainly Ella’s career is on the ascent and asked about the personal highlights so far she says “becoming the face of face of Emporio Armani's Diamond perfume, taking over from Beyoncé, and playing Glastonbury.”

Since making her name as a singer , Ella has gone on to travel the world, signed record and publishing deals, fallen in – and out – of love, scored a number of hits, both of her own and as a writer for other artists, and become a much in-demand figure within the fashion world.

She was the runner up in the BBC Sound of 2014, MTV, Vevo, 1Xtra, and was in the top 3 of the BRITS Critics Choice.

Her smash hit ‘Waiting All Night’ heralded a new golden era of dance music and introduced the voice – an all-conquering diva vocal with a tone rich, yearning and sexy, confiding and confident. She appeared on Naughty Boy singles and lay down tracks with Tinie Tempah, Wiz Khalifa and Bastille.

Born to a Rastafari father and a knitwear designer mother, music was always the driving force in this Londoner’s life.

A born performer she admits “I was always a show-off,” and was named after the First Lady of Song, Ella Fitzgerald.

Drawn to powerful women and soulful men with something to say, she says: “I’ve always been into punchy, loud songs – passionate, with a message. And I’ve always been really lyrical – I love the idea that someone has felt the same as me. I love honesty, brutality and rawness.”

A dancer from the age of two and a drummer at school, she sang backing vocals in a band when she was 14 and started writing songs.

Her mum made huge sacrifices to give her the very best private education and she attended Millfield School.

“I had some great opportunities. They weren’t handed to me on a plate but I was exposed to a lot of things. My mum re-mortgaged the house twice so I could go to Millfield. It was more about the school and the atmosphere there. I was quite an independent child and I loved it there.”

Her music teacher tipped off a few music execs on the ‘best voice in her school’ and soon they were clamouring for her; she was signed to Virgin on the back of two incredible songs she’d written when she was still only 17. Brought into the studio with a then-unknown Rudimental, she laid down the vocals on the track that would really introduce her to the world and following its success toured the world with the quartet, playing prolific festival slots as well as support shows for both Bastille and Naughty Boy.

Song-writing was something that came naturally to her. “I wanted to share my experiences in a way that when someone hears it in a car they go ‘that’s exactly how I’m feeling’ So they feel they’re not alone.”

She knows what she wants: “To empower people. As an artist it’s my job to hit people emotionally.”