This Could Be Ellie Goulding's Big Moment

Get ready, pop music fans: Ellie Goulding's new single, "On My Mind," might be just around the corner. On Monday morning, the 28-year-old British singer posted a new picture on Instagram with the caption "17 / 9 / 15," leading many to believe (myself included) that the lead offering from her upcoming new album will premiere on Thurs., Sept. 17. In the photo (which moves continuously, like a GIF), Goulding poses with her arms above her head, the glittering gold fringe of her sheer top fluttering gently in the breeze, partially obscuring her face. It's absolutely stunning. I don't know if the pic is the official artwork for "On My Mind," her new album cover, or just a promotional shot, but I do know this: it has me so hyped to hear her new material. It feels like this could be Goulding's big moment, people! The moment she transforms from a second-tier pop artist into a major worldwide sensation.

Goulding is no stranger to the U.S. music scene, but she's not quite a household name here just yet. After her breakthrough single, "Lights," peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2012, she had a couple of moderate hits ("Burn," "I Need Your Love" with Calvin Harris), but her career didn't explode stateside like some thought it would. Then, this past January, she debuted her contribution to the Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack, "Love Me Like You Do," and something finally seemed to "click."

The general public couldn’t get enough of "Love Me Like You Do," which Goulding co-wrote with Swedish pop mastermind Max Martin. The song climbed all the way to No. 1 on Billboard's pop radio airplay chart, and seemed to reignite interest in Goulding. It's no surprise, then, that she teamed up with Martin once again for "On My Mind." In fact, according to an article published in the October 2015 issue of Q Magazine, Martin is one of the "key" producers on Goulding's new LP, which she described to interviewer Mark Sutherland as "a big pop record." I don't know about you, but when I see "big pop record," one of the first releases that comes to mind is Katy Perry's massively successful Teenage Dream — a project Martin was also heavily involved with. Fascinating.

Yes, it feels like the stars have aligned for Goulding: not only is she dropping "On My Mind" on the heels of one of the biggest hits of her career, she's also managed to land the help one of the biggest hit-makers in the industry today. Now, all she needs to do is deliver some great music! Of course, that's easier said than done, but, fortunately, I think she's up to the challenge.