The evening began with a bit of background on Goulding, who grew up in the small town of Hereford and got heavily into music early on. “My mum was cool with music,” she says. “She would buy every new thing that was out. We really had no money, but whatever we did have, she’d spend it on CDs and tapes.” Idolizing singers like Bjork, Joni Mitchell, Beyonce and Stevie Nicks, Goulding says she quit college because “something was pushing me into music.” Elaborating on what that something is, she also says, “Having people come together for the same cause is really important. The fact that I can do that with shows is really awesome.”

Delving into “Halcyon,” we heard samples of a few tracks, including the clearly Bjork-influenced “My Blood,” which shares thematic water imagery with other songs on the album. Goulding says, “I have a fascination with the ocean, being lost at sea. I kind of want to be a mermaid.” The title track, “Halcyon,” addresses another theme of the album in its plaintive chorus: “When it’s just us, you show me what it feels like to be lonely, you show me what it feels like to be lost.” “I write songs out of being alone,” Goulding says. “I’m around people all the time, but there’s a theme of loneliness on this album.”

That is not to say the album is relentlessly downbeat or somber, however, as Goulding is quick to point out that “I like making things that give people hope, I suppose, in the least cheesy way possible.” Ellie Goulding’s career certainly seems to show a lot of hope, with unreleased collaborations with the likes of Skrillex and Swedish House Mafia possibly on the way “in the next couple of years,” proving her mantra that anything could happen.

The 2012 Ultra Music Festival kicks off this weekend in Miami, and we caught a sneak peak of the party about to explode here in South Florida. Swedish House Mafia appeared for a surprise performance at ABSOLUT Greyhound bash in Miami on Wednesday night. We were invited backstage to meet the guys and special guest Gabrielle Union, who looked as beautiful as ever as you can see from the photos above.

After hanging out a bit backstage, we went back and joined the crowd as we sipped down some tasty ABSOLUT cocktails. The crowd was totally amped for this event and Swedish House Mafia blew them away! We experienced Ultra a couple of years ago and this surprise concert gave us a taste of what to expect this weekend. The crowd was filled with all of the amazing sights you expect to see in Miami as all the South Florida hotties were decked out in tiny dresses and shorts for the evening of dancing. The crowd at Ultra is definitely different than what you would see at a rock festival!

Greyhound is a collaboration between ABSOLUT VODKA and Swedish House Mafia – check out the video here!