Elizsabeth
London-based artist Elizsabeth revealed her new single “I Choose Me” on July 26th.
Co-written with Carolyn Oakley and Ben Matravers, “I Choose Me” is an empowering record about self-love and self-growth.
After years of struggling with anxiety from feeling judged for who she was and constantly comparing herself to others, the artist is now using her voice to inspire and encourage people to love themselves for who they are. “The more love I had for myself, the more I saw love around me. Listening, writing and singing music continues to help me heal these old wounds, giving me peace when I need it most. I want to share my journey using my own music to inspire others and be a reminder that when we look inwards we have everything we’ve been looking for,” explains Elizsabeth.
“I Choose Me” is now available on major streaming platforms.
Photo credit: James Gallant
What's your story?
I am a US-born, UK-bred singer songwriter from London using music and social media to spark self-love and empowerment.
Could you describe us your childhood a little bit?
It was full of love with my family. I didn’t enjoy school much because I felt like I craved being liked and accepted by people who needed the same so they weren’t so generous with it. At 10 I started gaining a lot of weight, and became introverted because I began to not believe I was enough. And then went to boarding school at 11. I don’t regret going, it taught me so much and found friends for life there, but it did make me realise how important the education of self care and self worth is and how much it was missing.
If you could say something to your younger self, what would you say?
Be much kinder to yourself, relax and flow with life. Be unapologetically you, you won’t want to fight with life so much. Everything’s going to be more than ok. And most importantly, what I wish I said the most to myself; I love you.
How would you describe yourself today?
A unicorn blend of empathy, kindness, outrageous (to some contagious) laughter, regular crier, deep conversation, believer in magic, the power of love, with a combination of my inner child and my inner queen who love music, food, baby animals and video games.
When did you start writing songs? What made you want to write in the first place?
I knew music was my future and I wanted to be involved with music somehow in my daily life since I was 15. I originally wanted to be a film composer but I loved performing too much to give it up so I found the balance and became a music artist and songwriter :) I actually tried writing a song at 16 and it sucked. No exaggeration. My mind took the lead trying to be and sound like everything else but myself and my heart wasn’t open with it. I didn’t even have the nerve to do any open mics at university and it was only after I graduated at 21, I found The Songwriting Academy online and went to seminars about songwriting and began from there. Over time I found my writing voice and my confidence in my expression.
When did you decide to fully pursue music as a career?
I saw when I expressed myself through music I got to really connect to people. I could see it gave people peace and joy sometimes when they needed it most, and the moment I realised that there was no going back. I also always felt I could be my true self on stage or whenever I made music, it felt and still feels like home. On this journey of finding my voice and what I wanted to say, I found that it was intrinsically connected to my self worth and the way I saw who I was and has helped me grow and remember who I really am. I want to pass that self love and empowerment on in whatever way I can.
"I Choose Myself" is your new single - what's the story behind this song?
The concepts and journeys of self love and self worth is a common thread for my music and this song is about choosing yourself no matter what anyone else says. I wanted to write a song to empower ourselves even when the choices we make don’t make sense to others, to keep going and follow our ourselves no matter what. I’ve always followed this little niggle in myself that I couldn’t explain but always helped me and guided me. And I realised that following this niggle, my intuition, was my form of self care and whenever it came down to it, choosing myself was what saved and continues to save me. I knew I needed to express this somehow but I wasn’t ready for a long time because I was too scared of what people would think of me, am I being selfish? And then it hit me, yes I am selfish and thank God I am because then I wouldn’t be able to love as much as I do if I didn’t take care of myself first. And everyone should give themselves the love they willingly give to others, to receive the overflowing love they deserve and ultimately need.
Could you describe us the songwriting/production process? Who helped you create this song?
I wrote I Choose Myself late last year with two wonderful writers and friends Carolyn Oakley and Ben Matravers who also produced the record. This song was something I had been craving to write for some time I just didn’t know how. I don’t think I was ready to until we organised this writing session and then it just flowed.
What did you feel when writing this song?
I felt relieved, like I could breathe even better than I did because I was finally expressing something so important to me and it’s been justified so well in my favourite form that hits the heart.
What do you like the most about this song?
The message is timeless and universal, and even helped me when I needed it most.
The day before I was set to record the vocals, for lack of a better phrase, my heart broke. And I was so caught up in the emotions of it all, constantly thinking about the situation and the other person involved I just ran out of myself. I was an empty shell basically. And recording this song the next day was that first step coming back to myself. It was the exact message I didn’t know I needed at that time. So this song meant infinitely much more to me than I expected. The majority of the lead vocal you hear in the released record is actually the first take. It was the most raw and honest I’ve ever sung. Completely open hearted. So when I heard the finished record I was just full of gratitude, first that it existed but second that for anyone else who needs that reminder, this song could be what helps them like it helped me. There’s nothing like that feeling.
What can you tell us about the music video? What was the inspiration behind it?
I wanted it to be a direct reflection of the song. I wanted it be raw and simple. I wanted it to show the growth from a rigid stuck stance to a freedom with no inhibitions, dancing and celebrating myself, no longer holding myself back. This represents us all coming out of the shells we created to “fit in” and saying f*** no to expectations and society’s standards that play in our minds. Instead we choose ourselves, however that might be expressed :)
How do you go through anxiety?
For me it used to start subtle and then one thing could trigger it into snowballing very fast. After doing some inner work I realised majority of my anxiety came from caring what other people will think. About every little thing. It developed into strong anxiety that made me not want to get out of bed, not want to leave the house, not want to even do music or anything else I loved because I felt like I was trapped in a prison of all these streams of thoughts and fearful possibilities that seemed so real and so convincing. I often felt so paralyzed. But I’ve finally found ways to overcome and understand my anxiety before it snowballs which has helped me so much. In brief, focusing on gratitude and not taking life so seriously all the time, realising there’s only one of me so I can’t be compared, choosing my heart over my mind and making my mind a sacred space where I don’t accept every thought that comes through it, being present without any judgement, choosing self-care in whatever way makes me feel good knowing I never have to prove myself and knowing I’m never alone and loved just as I am, all help me align back to my true self again. I hope that helps with anyone else who still experiences anxiety :)
What message would you give to anyone who don't understand mental illnesses?
Do not believe the basic generalisations or stigmas associated with labelled mental illnesses. If you want to know more, research into the people who actually experience it because that’s the closest you will get to understanding. The body is just as important as the mind and needs to be taken care of. And every human is unique which means every mental illness experience is unique so I think it should be treated as such.
And what message would you give to anyone suffering from mental illnesses?
You are not alone. You are not broken. You are still more than enough even if all you’ve been taught to believe about yourself are negative stigmas filled with fear that aren’t true.
As an artist, what do you want to accomplish?
To release records and videos that are my expression and inspire self love and its importance. To perform around the world to as many people as I can spreading love, joy and healing through my music so that everyone who comes to my concerts can release their burdens and celebrate themselves with me. To collaborate with other artists, creatives and businesses to use our platforms and share empowerment in a multitude of ways. And I’d truly love my music to be a part of film and TV, as that was my first music dream to write music to film.
Do you remember a specific moment in your life where music made a huge difference?
Honestly, music has just always been there I can’t think of one specific moment. It’s helped me sleep, it’s helped me calm down, it’s helped give me confidence, it’s helped me understand more about myself, it’s helped me express emotions I didn’t know how else to express, it’s healed me in so many ways on a regular basis. That’s why I genuinely believe music is magic. Can’t get enough.
How do you want to be remembered for?
I’d like to be remembered for helping people love themselves and recognise their extraordinary worth so they can feel peace again. Helping them see the glorious powerful beings they are.
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
If we all learned to be and love our true selves, choose to heal any trauma and discover more about who we really are, choose ourselves over what the world has told us to be, I believe if we all started with ourselves, we’d have a bigger capacity to love others and that in itself would collectively make the world a better place.
What biggest life lessons have you learned so far?
Being present. Anything is possible if we believe it to be. This life is transient, an experience and a gift. And love is really all that matters in the end. Love makes life beautiful, worth living, full of miracles, magic and possibilities. And being present in that truth transformed the way I see my life and my reason for being. Discovering I have the opportunity to choose love in every moment has been the ultimate freedom.
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