Following the release of the brand new single Good Luck, we caught back up with singer and songwriter Elliot Wren, to find out more about the release, how the events of 2020 have affected the creative process, and plenty more. Here’s the conversation in full.
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Hi Elliot – great to catch up with you! How have you been keeping busy throughout a tumultuous 2020?
It’s good to catch up! I haven’t been doing a whole lot, I’ve been taking this time as an opportunity to do some personal healing and processing. I have been doing a bit of writing though, which has also kept me busy.
Congrats on the new single – it’s great to hear more new music from you. What can you tell us about Good Luck – how did it come to be, and how does it feel to share it with the world?
I was in an abusive relationship and I was living with the person. When I realized what was happening and how unhappy / hurt I was, I was able to leave that situation and come back home. A couple of days later I wrote this song as a means of coming to terms with the situation but also showing others that it’s ok to leave those kinds of unhealthy or dangerous situations.
What’s your favorite lyric from the single, and why?
My favorite lyric is probably “A million reasons aren’t excuses anymore I fear”. This is my favorite lyric because it captures part of the reason I made this song in the first place. They were really hurtful and kept excusing it with every reason under the sun, but that doesn’t make it OK. And that’s what I want to get across to listeners. Someone can be excusing something all they want, but that doesn’t make it OK, and you’re allowed to get out of that type of situation.
Do you think your songwriting style is still evolving, or is that not something you think about?
Oh, it’s absolutely evolving! Every time I write a song I learn something new about songwriting. I’m working on a new project that’s unlike anything I’ve done before, and I think it showcases just that – an evolution in my songwriting.
Is there a video on the way for Good Luck, and if so – what can we look forward to from that?
No, not this time. I don’t feel I personally could make a music video without breaking social distancing guidelines and I don’t think that would be responsible or fair to anyone.
Back in March you stated that you wanted to bring ‘a sense of compassion and understanding into the music world’. Given the struggles and divides that have since taken over many parts of the Western World, would you say that this desire has suffered a blow or grown stronger?
It only got stronger. I think now it’s more important than it ever has been, with everything going on. We need to come together more than ever, and it’s absolutely crucial for us to break down all kinds of barriers that are keeping people back.
Have you done any live streaming during lock-down, and have you tuned into any yourself – what are your thoughts on this format?
I’ve taken part in one open mic live stream so far and watched a couple. I think it’s a cool way to still be a part of the music community and still bring music to the world even in the midst of a pandemic.
What’s the best thing about being an artist and songwriter, and on the flip side – what’s the hardest part of the process?
The best part of creating music for me is taking experiences that are so deeply personal and bringing them to people in a way that they can relate and hopefully learn from what I’ve gone through. The hardest part is probably the technical side and getting it out there- things like social media, which I’ve never been good at.
What are you the most excited about, going forwards?
Without a doubt the new project I’m working on. I’m putting a lot of creative energy into it and it’s going to be a lot of work, but it’s super important to me already.
What would you change about the music industry if you could?
I would love to see more inclusion and representation on all levels. I would love to see anyone willing to share their struggles and their story met with support and love, and I think that’s incredibly important.
Is there anything else you’d like to say?
First of all, thank you for the interview! I hope readers will give my new song a listen and reach out on Instagram. If you want to keep updated on my music, you can also follow me on Spotify!
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Check out Elliot Wren via Facebook & Instagram.
