Eloise Alterman

Interview & Article by Brittany Ormiston

Photo by Bailey Holiver

“Cry if you need to. Feel misunderstood. Scream at the stars. Whatever you have to do to get through it.” Singer, songwriter Eloise Alterman has utilized music as therapy for most of her life. Now listeners are using her music as a companion while trudging through their own hardships and moments of healing. Eloise’s EP, Sad Bird, was released back in May, and witnessing the positive response has changed her perspective. The project “felt like a narrative for so long,” but Eloise quickly realized the power her storytelling holds after seeing the impact it has had on the world. Individuals on TikTok are crafting their own versions of tracks from Sad Bird, just as Eloise used to cover the songs of artists she admired. These full-circle moments have Eloise at a loss for words, and are difficult to wrap her head around. “...Every single time I watch someone sing the words to my songs…it’s so crazy,” beams Eloise. 

Eloise is over the moon about her recent project, and is quick to credit several other individuals who played a role in its craftsmanship. The entirety of Sad Bird was produced by Dave Cobb who is a GRAMMY Award winning producer, songwriter, and music executive. He is best known for working with other artists such as Brandi Carlile and Chris Stapleton. Dave specifically wanted Eloise’s vocals to stand out by being at the forefront of each of the songs on the EP. This way the lyrics and her voice would be what listeners hear first with the music following close behind. Eloise mentioned she had an enjoyable time working with Dave, and was sad when the body of work was complete as that meant their time working together was at a stopping point. Eloise also collaborated with director Ava Rikki (Hayley Kiyoko, FLETCHER) to bring to life the official music video of ‘Her.’ This was the first single from the EP, and encompasses the pain and heartbreak of knowing the one you love is hung up on someone else. Ava’s vision for the video closely matched Eloise’s, and she had the opportunity to showcase her artistry in another way.      

Eloise has continued to illustrate her many talents by creating an acoustic version of Sad Bird. This body of work is called Sad Bird (The 4am), and is set to be released in November. “Four in the morning is one of the oddest hours. I’ve always called it the lonely hour, as it doesn’t feel like morning and it doesn’t feel like night. It’s almost like you’re stuck between two different days. I decided to call these versions of Sad Bird the 4AM Versions because they are stripped back, raw, and softer - the way I would sing at the piano by myself at 4am,” shares Eloise. She traveled back to the city of Nashville, TN where she put down roots early on in her career. Using Bon Iver and Coldplay as inspiration, Eloise reimagined the tracks of the EP and “constructed even more sad and gut-wrenching versions of the originals.” She sat down at the piano, and laid out the tracks as if she made them while crying in her basement, hopeless and alone. Daniel Tashian (Kacey Musgraves) helped the project together with his magic touch and exquisite production. 

As if the audience isn’t already on the edge of their seats, Eloise shared that there will be a second phase of Sad Bird being released very soon. Part II will be a continuation of the first EP with the title Still Sings. This addition is near and dear to Eloise’s heart because it includes a track she wrote completely by herself at 19 years old when she first moved to Nashville, and directly after removing herself from a toxic situation with a significant other. “All I had was a bed and a piano, a little electric piano. I wrote this song called ‘Last Night’s Dress,’” stated Eloise. She is incredibly proud of the song since it was one of the few chosen for the EP, and it was produced by Dave Cobb to add the cherry on top. The city of Nashville has played a huge role in Eloise’s music career, and has been a major influence as well. After growing up in Detroit, MI, Eloise moved to Nashville “because of the respect they have for songwriting.” She quickly made major changes to how she approached songwriting and instrumentation. “Moving from guitar to piano was the best thing I had ever done. Songwriting and piano felt right,” added Eloise. She shifted from writing according to a template to writing exactly how she was feeling, and letting the words flow. This subtle change allowed Eloise to start displaying the utmost vulnerability in her music. After completing sessions with writers from East Nashville, Eloise’s sound slowly transitioned from country to more indie / alternative. Eloise spent six years in Nashville, and just recently moved to Los Angeles, CA at the beginning of 2022. 

Starting over yet again has been another major influence when it comes to her music, and life in general. Eloise feels much happier in Los Angeles, and has “grown up a lot already.” She is making life-long friends, realizing what is important, and setting boundaries for herself. All of this in turn impacts her music and presence in the music industry. Eloise is a driving force that has no plans of slowing down. She effortlessly captures the aftermath of heartbreak and loss, and releases it through soul-baring lyrics and delicate yet compelling vocals. Her music allows listeners to understand Eloise on a personal level, and take away that it is okay to feel. “It’s okay to sit in your feelings…be who you are.”