7 Fun Facts About Elle Winter, Including Her 2 Biggest Musical Inspirations

By Hedy Phillips

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that few people are cooler than Elle Winter. The singer/songwriter, who just dropped a new single called "Thought of Me," is wrapping up a huge nationwide tour with boy band In Real Life, where she lit up the stage with a few hits of her own and a ridiculously good cover of her favorite Shawn Mendes song, "In My Blood." We caught up with her after the show to find out what her favorite things to do in her hometown of New York are, as well as what she likes about being on tour.

She Has Some Great Breakup Advice

Elle has an as-yet-unreleased song called "Yeah, No" about dealing with a breakup. She said she wrote it after not just going through a breakup, but dealing with her ex telling her he'd be there for her if she needed him. "I was like, yeah, no, I'm good, I don't need you," she told POPSUGAR. "Breakups are hard, but you get through it, and you don't need a man to help you. You're strong, you got this."

She's Balancing College and a Music Career

Talk about a badass — Elle is currently in school while also writing, recording, and touring. We asked her how she manages to do it all, and she said her professors are actually super accommodating and supportive of her career. "I also took a gap year to really focus on music, but it was important to me to go to school, so I'm back there now," she told us.

She Has History With Disney

Elle goes way back with Disney. She was discovered by the entertainment giant when she was 12 and the rest is history.

She's Loving Tour — and Trying All the Food

Elle said one of the best things about being on tour is trying the different food in every city. "I've found a few great vegan restaurants, and I had some really good fish in Cleveland!" she told us. And though she doesn't typically eat pizza, she said she was intrigued by Chicago deep dish.

She's a New Yorker, Through and Through

Elle grew up in New York and is proud to be a New Yorker. "I love going to Central Park; it's probably my favorite New York thing to do," she told us. "Seeing all the people and the carriages! I love it so much."

She's a Massive Boy Band Fan

Elle loves all the greats — including her latest tour mates In Real Life. She's also opened for the Jonas Brothers and Why Don't We, so it's no surprise she loves a good boy band. "I also loved One Direction — especially Zayn!" she told us. "It was so sad when he left the band, but I love his solo music too." She said she and a friend even dressed up as Zayn and Gigi Hadid for Halloween one year.

Her Musical Influences Are Fellow Strong Women

Elle looks up to other women in the music industry and always has. "Britney Spears and Avril Lavigne are two of my favorites. All of these strong women really inspired me," she told us. "If they're doing it, I could totally do it." She also said she used to sing and record over her cassette tapes when she was younger so she could record her own versions of their songs!