“Sometimes I feel anxiety/ Feel something’s creepin’ up on me…”
It’s so incredibly important for young listeners to hear lyrics that normalise feelings they’re experiencing but might be too scared to discuss and we salute Eliott for bravely sharing her story.
Throughout her debut album, Eliott charts her mental health journey chronologically: at the top, we meet a “broken person” before she navigates the twists and turns of heartbreak and recovery until hope finally prevails with a repeated affirmation (“You’ll be just fine”) during the reassuring closer.
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Track three, Tell Me, was written in 2019 when Eliott began to seek help: “So tell me mother, when will I know what to do?/ If I can’t keep up, and I don’t wanna get up this time.” During this stunning lead single’s anthemic choruses, Eliott’s impassioned portrayal is cradled by a backup choir.
Elsewhere: standout moment Happy On My Own (featuring Vancouver Sleep Clinic’s moving vocals) represents a turning point, Control explores unrequited love (“Am I going crazy?/ ‘Cause you don’t miss me”) and the tender For Oli (“I’ll leave the light on for you”) is a tribute to a lost friend who lives on forever in her heart.
Eliott learned how to harmonise while singing along to The Sound Of White by Missy Higgins in the car with her mum, during long drives from her hometown of Cobram to Melbourne, and her powerful pipes are the true star here.
LABEL: ISLAND RECORDS
RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
To stream Just Calling To Tell You I’m Okay by Eliott, head here.
