Track By Track: Kings Elliot - ‘I’m Not Always Sad, Sometimes I’m Angry’
Swiss-British indie pop sensation Kings Elliott has created a pivotal moment in her career with her highly anticipated EP ‘I’m Not Always Sad, Sometimes I’m Angry’.
A stunning 6-track collection of raw, emotive music that showcases her ever-evolving artistry. The EP’s focus track, ‘Sweet Nothing’, an unapologetic anthem of self-empowerment, bursting with swagger and defiance, pushing creative boundaries with a sound unlike anything she's ever done before, yet still encapsulates the soul-stirring vulnerability and unfiltered emotion that Kings Elliot has become known for.
She took a moment to talk to us about the EP – track by track.
SWEET NOTHING
'Sweet Nothing' is unlike anything I've ever written before! I have never had so much fun performing, writing or listening to one of my own songs!! Sonically and lyrically I found a side of myself I've never shown or fully embraced before. It’s unfiltered, unapologetic and sassy! Writing it was a bold and freeing experience and I’ve loved every second of letting go.
LIKE I WAS NEVER HERE
This song is a desperate love letter to the people I’ve hurt. It’s a song full of guilt and confessions wrapped in a soothing sonic landscape that helps me come closer to accepting myself for who I am. We wanted to explore, in a poetic and beautiful way, a world where I never existed, yet without letting the melodies and chords feel too desolate, even though the theme is dark. While deeply sad, this song also brings me a lot of comfort.
I HATE THE SUN
Ironically, we wrote this song in LA (Carole Ades, Conway Ellis and me) just after I remarked on the blazing sun and why I prefer the rain! People often say, 'The sun is out! Why are you still sad?' and I wanted to write this song as my response to that question. The sun doesn’t heal mental health issues —in fact, the expectation to embrace a sunny day can sometimes make them worse. There have been many days when the sunshine, instead of lifting my spirits, only filled me with guilt and shame for shutting myself away while the world outside seemed so bright. To me, the song feels anything but sad though! In fact, listening to it leaves me feeling a bit lighter.
ENOUGH
It feels surreal to finally have this song out in the world. I wrote it a few years ago with Conway (Ellis) while trying to process the intense heartache of a painful breakup. I’ve always wrestled with the thought of not being ‘enough’ and when someone gives up on you, it magnifies that feeling tenfold. I wasn’t sure I’d ever release it—it’s so direct, no poetry to soften it, just raw, honest truth. But people have been asking for it since I played it live for the first time in 2020 so I decided it was time!
NEVER BE MINE
‘Never Be Mine’ came about while sitting on the sofa with a bottle of wine and a guitar with my two very close friends Conway Ellis and Emelie Eriksson.
We spent hours talking about the pain of falling in love with the wrong person—that feeling of being angry at your own heart for wanting what it wants. So, I wanted to write the song as a conversation with my own heart. Singing that chorus is SO cathartic, especially when the front rows at my shows are banging their heads and shouting along!
IT’S MY BIRTHDAY
This song is very special to me. My longtime collaborator Conway Ellis (halfrhymes) is a very close friend of mine and we are constantly in touch, so our songwriting flows through texts, calls, and random voice messages. We know everything about each other and since we both struggle with similar emotions at times, there is a mutual understanding that to me is very rare. Conway started playing that beautiful piano melody and sang, “It’s my birthday, but I don’t feel happy”. Hearing that struck a chord and stung so deeply. We had many conversations about how hard birthdays can be when you’re not in a good place mentally. We wrote the rest of the song in tears. Releasing it on my actual birthday felt like the perfect way to celebrate.
