When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.<\/i><\/p>\n Credit: Sebastian Buzzalino<\/p>\n Lindsay Ell carries the confidence of a guitar virtuoso and the curiosity of someone unafraid to ask life\u2019s big questions.<\/p>\n On her new EP, fence sitter, she turns inward, exploring love, loss, ambition, and the lingering question that\u2019s followed her, and many women, for years \u2013 does she want to become a mother?<\/p>\n The hands that once traded licks with Buddy Guy and Keith Urban are now shaping songs that feel like journal entries set to melody, illustrating that not knowing isn\u2019t a weakness. It\u2019s where all possibilities exist.<\/p>\n What was your first guitar?<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cI found my dad\u2019s American Standard Sunburst Strat<\/a> when I was eight, and the first lick he taught me was the intro to Stairway to Heaven. That Christmas I got a black pawn-shop Ibanez that I carried everywhere. It was like another limb!\u201d<\/p>\n What about a guitar you had to part with?<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cAn airline destroyed my acoustic Taylor 814CE \u2013 cracked top, ripped binding, wrecked sides. It was repaired but never the same. It was a really sad moment.<\/p>\n \u201cThen one time I was working with a bunch of kids through Notes for Notes. I had this teal American Standard Strat, and one of the kids fell in love with it. I felt called to donate it. I often think about that guitar \u2013 but I love knowing it made that kid\u2019s day. Maybe even their path!\u201d<\/p>\n You\u2019ve got incredible precision and technique. Who influenced that? <\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWhen I was 10 I followed my dad to bluegrass camps and fell in love with flatpicking and fingerstyle. Bluegrass is as clean as it gets; distortion can hide things, but bluegrass won\u2019t. I also learned Tommy Emmanuel songs. I thought it was so cool that you can play bass<\/a> and melody at once.<\/p>\n \u201cAt 13 I started working with Randy Bachman. He introduced me to jazz chords and Lenny Breau. From there I went deep into Clapton, Hendrix \u2013 my favorite \u2013 and Stevie Ray Vaughan.<\/p>\n \u201cListening to John Mayer blew my mind with the way he fused their styles into contemporary music. And Derek Trucks\u2019 playing sounds like singing. He pulls from Indian scales and microtones, which showed me you don\u2019t have to play by the usual rules to speak directly.\u201d<\/p>\n You experienced a watershed moment with Buddy Guy.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThat moment was so special. I was 18 and underage, but he invited me down to his club in Chicago. His band was so good \u2013 they just raised the floor, and I had to elevate to that. I remember hopping up with him, having no idea what I was playing, but I just knew everything would be okay.<\/p>\n \u201cI learned from Buddy that it\u2019s not just about skill. It\u2019s about who you surround yourself with. I try to hire band members who challenge me to be better. If I\u2019m the best person in my band, something\u2019s wrong. I want people who push me; who say, \u2018Come on, give me more!\u2019 If we\u2019re not challenging ourselves, what are we doing?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/span><\/div>\n