Interview & Article by Brittany Ormiston

Kings Elliot is a Swiss-born, London-based singer-songwriter who deep dives into dark emotions, and brings confessional, soul-baring pop music to the surface. She has chosen to keep her given name a secret, which allows her to courageously share her mental health struggles while accepting them along the way. Within the last year, Kings Elliot has developed very influential, long-lasting connections with individuals across the globe while on tour with Stephen Sanchez and Imagine Dragons. Kings Elliot and the music she creates will continue to give a voice to the emotions of others while simultaneously liberating her own internal demons.

Your most recent release, ‘Lost Again,’ is featured in a multi-platform video game The Callisto Protocol. How did this opportunity come about, and how would you describe the overall experience?

Kings: “The people from the video game liked my music and they wanted something specifically for the game and they thought I could potentially do it so they reached out! I got to writing and sent them a demo of an idea and they liked it - so I finished it on the road while I was on tour with Imagine Dragons and it became 'Lost Again.’”

‘Ashes By The Morning’ is an exquisite track off of your EP Bored Of The Circus. Instead of bringing a choir in to record vocals, you recorded yourself utilizing different voices. What was the creative process for this song in particular?

Kings: “Yes, I record all the vocals myself, I find it really fun and liberating. Writing wise, the song came out of a traumatic experience in my personal life, caused by myself and my self destructive behaviors. The whole chorus kind of just fell out as I was talking about it and the rest we worked hard on, sometimes endless days in the studio but so worth it.”

You provided creative direction for the visuals of your recent EP, and worked closely with a team to make your vision come to life. What was it like expressing your artistry in another way?

Kings: “Expressing art in multiple ways and having it all come together in the middle is my absolute favorite thing. I loved being able to explore my vision with other creatives who are incredible at what they do, it made it so rewarding and incredibly inspiring.”

Your unique music style falls into the alt-pop genre, and you draw inspiration from desolate songs of the 40s and 50s. Who are a few artists you’ve taken notes of over the years?

Kings: “There’s been a huge variety of artists that have influenced me in different ways over the years, like Frank Sinatra, Queen, Elvis Presley, Lana Del Rey and old Disney movie scores.”

You had the honor of being out on the road with Stephen Sanchez this past month, and providing support for Imagine Dragons last year. Describe three things you learned on tour, and will treasure for years to come.

Kings: “The most important thing I learned on the Imagine Dragons tour, which was the first tour I ever went on, was to make sure I take time out to slow down and look after myself so I can even make it through the whole thing. Another very important thing was taking in every single day and enjoying every minute of it, because on tour time flies and when it’s over it can feel so surreal.”

Your dream of performing in New York just came true a few weeks ago while on tour with Stephen. What thoughts were running through your head while you were on stage?

Kings: “I was panicking honestly. Before I got on stage, I was sobbing uncontrollably because I was just so afraid. Stephen was really supportive though and fired me on from the sidelines which gave me the courage I needed. The audience in New York was also so wonderful. By the time I got to the second song, I felt so safe and started to enjoy myself, albeit in complete disbelief of what was actually happening! “

A few years ago, you became an artist full-time and self-released your first EP. What are a few pieces of advice you can share with those who want to pursue a career in the music industry?

Kings: “Unapologetically be yourself, listen to your gut and trust your own vision. Don't let anyone tell you what you can and can't do.”

Mental health has always been at the forefront of your mind and songwriting. It requires an immense amount of strength to take your own struggles, and channel them into songs for others to lean on as they heal. Besides songwriting, what are a few other tools and strategies you reach for to nurture your own mental health?

Kings: “Whenever I have an intense few weeks without any breaks, I make sure I take some time out to re-energise and do things away from music as well. I find it really important to take days out where I don’t answer the phone to anyone, play video games and spend time with friends and my four adopted bunny rabbits, they always bring me back to a calmer place.”

Kings Elliot

The Scarlet Opera

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