ELBA
ELBA is definitely one of the best artists I’ve ever featured. I just had to re-interview again for the release of this new EP.
Titled Mirrorball, the 5-track EP approaches uplifting and empowering topics through upbeat and colorful records. A solid project, from beginning to end. The last single, “We Can Do This”, is a tribute to community.
“It was decisive when I dared to open up and let the people who care about me into all the difficult things I was facing on my own.I realized, that I was anything but alone and I suddenly felt this strong sense of community that disarmed my fear of falling, reassuring me that if I do, there’s always someone to catch me,” she explains.
Mirrorball is out now !
Photo credit: Sebastian Vistisen Toft & Alice Fredsøe
Hi ELBA, how are you? What have you been up to since our first interview?
I’m good thanks - sun’s shining! Since we last spoke, I’ve mainly been finishing the songs for my new EP and playing quite a few concerts around Denmark.
You're getting ready to release your new EP Mirrorball - how does it feel to release this project?
I’ve been really excited to share this EP with the world. Thematically, it contrasts with my debut album, ‘Teardrops & Blind Spots,’ which was about my thoughts and feelings when I had to take stress leave a few years ago. Writing that album was very personal and important to me, but after its process and release, I felt a deep need to focus on the positive and uplifting aspects of my life and bring that into my songwriting. That drive led to ‘Mirrorball.’
Could you describe the songwriting/production process for this EP? Who helped you create it?
I love writing music with others, I love the community we have around music, and I love seeing and hearing my ideas merge with others’. This EP was written with Astrid Cordes, Nikolaj Poulsen, and Mads Bunch, each of whom is crucial to the EP’s sound. I would describe it as high-energy, outgoing, danceable, and bass-heavy.
What different topics are you exploring on this EP? What's the story behind each track?
As mentioned, I tried to focus on positive themes for this EP. It starts with ‘We Can Do This,’ a tribute to community, followed by ‘Kindness,’ which is about speaking kindly to oneself. ‘Kindness’ is followed by ‘You Do You,’ about standing up for oneself, ‘Confetti,’ a love song to my boyfriend, and it ends with ‘I’m a Dancer,’ which bursts into ecstatic joy.
What did you feel when recording "We Can Do This"?
Vocally, I tried to do something a bit different on ‘We Can Do This’ compared to the other songs on the EP. I wanted doubt and insecurity to shine through more on this track to convey how important it is for me to be part of a community where I can share my doubts and worries, feel supported, and have my concerns disarmed.
What made you want to name your EP Mirrorball?
‘Mirrorball’ evokes a sense of dance, and in dancing, I often feel free and happy. These are the feelings I want to impart to the listener.
Any favorite memories from the making of this EP?
We all had a great time making ‘Kindness.’ I don’t remember exactly how the song came about, which is often the best part of my process because it means I wasn’t overanalyzing. I do remember it was a lot of fun to create! (And making the accompanying video was a blast too.)
What message do you want to deliver through Mirrorball?
It may sound simple, but there are so many things in the world to worry about—climate, war, etc. It can become overwhelming, and that’s where I hope people will listen to the EP and that the songs can bring some joy and distraction from all the negative things around us. Not that it isn’t important too - it is! But sometimes you need a break from it all!
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