Everything I Didn't Say is the second studio album by English singer and songwriter Ella Henderson. It was released on 11 March 2022 by Major Tom's / Asylum Records and Warner Music, marking Henderson's first full-length album since her 2014 debut Chapter One. Originally scheduled for release in 2016, Henderson would leave her then record label Syco Records, citing creative differences. After a period of ill health, and signing a new deal with Major Tom's, Henderson would release several standalone songs as well as collaborations with other artists.
Recording for Everything I Didn't Say took place from 2016 through 2021 mostly in London and the UK, but also in Stockholm and Los Angeles, with around 400 songs recorded for consideration. Taking a diary-like approach to the track listing, each song tells an individual story in Henderson's life. Lyrics cover a range of themes including themes of love, heartbreak, mental health and self-discovery, against a musical backdrop of both electronic and traditional instruments. English singer and songwriter Tom Grennan and American singer and songwriter Mikky Ekko are featured on the album, along with production and co-writes from James Arthur, TMS, Jordan Riley, Al Shux and Richard "Biff" Stannard amongst others.
The album was preceded by the release of the singles "Let's Go Home Together" (with Grennan) and "Brave", as well as the title track, which was released as a promotional single in the countdown to the album's release. "Let's Go Home Together" reached number ten on the UK Singles Chart and was certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry.
The album was a commercial success, peaking at number eight on the UK Albums Chart and nine on the Scottish Albums Chart. It marked her second top ten entry and second consecutive album to debut in the top ten on both charts. To promote the album Henderson had the opening slot on Irish band the Script's tour Tales from the Script and embarked on her own eight-date UK concert tour across October 2022, both in support of Everything I Didn't Say. The following month, Henderson released a deluxe version of the album, Everything I Didn't Say and More which included singles and collaborations from the last few years including Henderson's 2022 UK top ten singles "Crazy What Love Can Do" (with Becky Hill and David Guetta) and "21 Reasons" (with Nathan Dawe).
Background
Following her UK Singles Chart-topping debut single, "Ghost" in 2014, and release of the chart-topping debut album, Chapter One (2014), Henderson would take Chapter One on tour in October and November 2015. Before the tour kicked off, in April 2015, it was confirmed that Henderson would begin recording new music with Danny O'Donoghue, lead singer of Irish band the Script, would be recording music with Henderson. This took place less than a year after "Ghost" topped the UK Singles Chart for four weeks and achieved international success. During an interview with the Official Charts Company's George Griffiths, Henderson revealed why there was a big gap between her first and second albums, explaining that part of the gap was due to processing the level of success she had achieved at a young. Henderson said: "I was touring and promoting for so long when I hit my 20s I realised I didn't know where home was. I didn't have a couch, I couldn't drive. I needed to live, which is one of the reasons why I took a step back." Henderson also spoke about crippling anxiety, which included being hospitalised after suffering a panic attack. She told the Evening Standard that she could not release the original iteration of her second album, "I was so lost in terms of who I was as a person that I wasn't ready to release it."
Recording and production
According to Henderson, she wrote nearly 400 songs for the album and wanted to compose a diary-like track listing, with each song telling a story and a "different part" of her life. After the album's release, she would explain that she wanted audiences to be "brought up to speed" with everything that had happened since her first album, regardless of whether it was "the good the bad or the ugly ". Sessions took place across various recording studios and locations around the world including in Brighton and London in the UK, Stockholm (Sweden) and some sessions in the United States too. Despite a second album being in production as far back as 2016, in 2018 it was revealed that Henderson had departed ways with her record label Syco Records. The decision was reported by the media to have been mutual, stating that both artist and label "felt that a change of direction was needed for everyone after the gap between the release of the first album and [Ella's] as-yet unreleased follow-up".