A Quick Chat with Elysaé

Elysaé, your music has been described as a blend of vintage instrumentation with
modern pop, creating a sound that's both nostalgic and contemporary. How did you
approach blending these elements in your new single, ‘I Don’t Know’?

When I started working on ‘I Don’t Know,’ I wanted to explore elements of a musical style that I
hadn’t yet - an old-school waltz. I grew up playing classical piano, so I’ve had plenty of waltzes
under my fingers, but I’d never tried to create one of my own, especially not in a contemporary
style. It felt like the perfect way to capture the emotions I was experiencing at the time - kind of
like dancing with uncertainty.

When it came to production, we wanted to keep that old-school feel, so we leaned into more
organic instrumentation. We used a mellotron, which added this dreamy, nostalgic texture, and
then ran everything through a tape machine to give it that warm, slightly imperfect vibe that I
love. It was about blending the old with the new in a way that felt authentic to where I was, both
musically and emotionally.

Your debut EP, You Might As Well Shout, showcased your journey in finding and
reclaiming your voice. How does ‘I Don’t Know’ build on this theme, and what personal
experiences inspired the track?

My debut EP, ‘You Might As Well Shout’, was like a permission slip for self-expression - to prove
to myself that my voice mattered and that it was safe to be heard (and I hope it did the same for
others). Since then, I’ve felt more relaxed in the creative process, allowing myself to explore
different sounds and be more playful with my expression.

‘I Don’t Know’ is part of a trio that delves into the tension between fate and free will. The song
was written during the tail end of the pandemic, a time when I felt trapped, staring at the same
four walls and questioning everything about my life - who I was, what I wanted, and where I was
headed. The world outside was split between the ‘doom and gloom’ of it all and this pressure to
seize the moment and create the life of your dreams. But there I was, day in and day out,
picking myself apart and feeling lost and confused, and that’s where ‘I Don’t Know’ came from.
It’s funny; you’d think that once you reclaim your voice, everything would fall into place. But
really, it just gives you the freedom to be honest about where you are, even if at times, you
simply don’t know. This song captures the feeling of floating in ‘limbo land,’ when you sense
change in the air but have no idea what it looks like yet. I think so many of us can relate to that -
I know I still feel it on a regular basis.

You've performed at various festivals and shared the stage with renowned acts like
Caravãna Sun and Dande and The Lion. How have these experiences influenced your
music and the way you approach live performances?

I absolutely love playing festivals and being inspired by other artists’ live shows! As someone
who was naturally introverted and shy, performing was something I had to work hard at, and
sharing the stage with high caliber acts has been incredibly inspiring. Watching how other artists
interact with their audience, how they dress, move, and curate a live show that tells a story - it’s
all influenced the way I approach my own performances.

These experiences have pushed me to bring out a more playful and fun side in my songwriting. I want people to feel good, to dance, sing, and really connect during the shows. Now, I have so
much fun with the whole process and love creating an experience that’s unique to each
performance. What once made me anxious has become something I genuinely love to do.

‘I Don’t Know’ features a unique mix of playful and introspective tones. Can you talk
about the songwriting process for this track and how you balance those contrasting
emotions?

I’m naturally quite an emotional person - I feel everything deeply and intensely, but at the same
time, I’m very aware that emotions are temporary and not an ultimate truth. There’s something
almost humorous about that contrast. It’s funny to watch yourself go through the motions,
experiencing something so intensely, sometimes being a little dramatic, yet knowing it won’t last
forever.

While the song’s content is a bit heavy, the lightness comes through in that ironic
self-awareness. Musically, I wanted it to feel like you could dance through your emotions rather
than sink further into them. And what better way to do that than with a waltz-feel? It makes you
naturally want to sway along.

The music video was where I really got to be playful. I worked with my friend, Isaac Thorpe, and
we wanted to create a surrealist world within a mundane setting to show the way it feels like
your mind is going crazy when you’re stuck in limbo. I made all the props by hand - if you look
closely, you’ll spot things like tomato sauce nail polish, a cactus hairbrush, or me swimming in a
teacup. Even when things are heavy, there’s usually a way to find some joy in the absurdity.

Your debut single ‘Blinded’ reached #4 on the AMRAP Radio Charts. How does the
success of that song shape your expectations or approach to releasing new music,
especially with ‘I Don’t Know’?

Despite the success of ‘Blinded,’ I try not to set too many expectations for new releases. Music
is personal to me; it’s about how it makes me feel and the connections it creates. At one point, I
felt pressure to top that early success, but that mindset started to suck the joy out of releasing
music and made it all feel too serious.

I’m incredibly grateful for that initial success - it showed me that my music resonated with people and encouraged me to keep going. But when I think back, I realise how little expectation I had when I released that song. As an independent artist releasing her first song, I wasn’t driven by external pressures, and that’s a benchmark I’m happy to stick with. I feel like I’ve come back to that space with ‘I Don’t Know.’ It’s also a reminder to celebrate the little wins. I was over the moon with what ‘Blinded’ achieved, and I never want to take those moments for granted.

Looking forward, what can fans expect from this new artistic era you're embracing? Are
there any upcoming projects or themes you’re excited to explore following the release of
‘I Don’t Know’?

In this era, I’ve really found what I love - world-building and storytelling. After releasing my debut
EP, I felt unsure about how to move forward because the standard industry model didn’t
resonate with me or fit with my lifestyle. So, I’ve been carving out my own lane, and that feels
really good right now.

This trio of songs - ‘Mr Man on the Moon’, ‘Mirrors’, and ‘I Don’t Know’ - feels like the first
chapter of a storybook. I’m loving the process of creating this universe with interconnected
themes and artwork. I’m especially excited for the ‘I Don’t Know’ music video to come out, which
ties into the ‘Mr Man on the Moon’ video and brings it all together.

I’m also finalizing the next chapter. This new trio will explore the theme of reminiscing on past
love and has its own mini-universe within the story. It’s been a joyful outlet for my inner child,
and I’m excited to share these new creations with you all.