Ellie Gilbert-Bair [they/she] is a writer, editor, and vocal musician working in New York City and Chicago.

They hold a B.A. in Philosophy, Sociology, and Gender & Sexuality Studies from the University of Chicago. Their thesis, “Gender (De/Re)Constructions: Theorizing Subversion Beyond Discourse,” examined the power of material transformations to subvert the hegemonic sex/gender system and create livable possibilities of gender-expansive embodiment.

While at UChicago, Ellie directed the competitive a cappella group Voices in Your Head, who ranked 4th internationally and won the Los Angeles A Cappella Festival’s scholastic competition during their leadership. They also edited the fashion and visual culture magazine MODA, wrote poetry for Blacklight and Post-X, and interned at WBEZ, Chicago Review, and Articles of Interest. Each of these experiences grew their ability to compose thematic and narrative unfoldings with compassion and creativity.

Currently, Ellie is the assistant managing editor at South Side Weekly, the R&B/hip-hop editor at The Luna Collective, and a freelance vocal arranger specializing in fluid and evocative competition sets.

They’ve been thinking a lot about the blues and what metaphors can do. Please reach out if you’d like to work together, or if you have a pondering to offer!