London alt-pop singer-songwriter Kings Elliot pulls from sadness to create something uplifting and magical in her intimate single Cry Baby Cry, written as a letter to her younger self but rooted in the hope that people don’t shy away from being open about their mental health.

One of many empowering offerings featured in her new EP Bored of the Circus, this rising musician weaves intricately balanced tales of acknowledging your struggles while also fighting to overcome it.

Making use of music as her coping mechanism since a young age, Kings Elliot has established herself an act to watch with lyrically-nuanced productions that are a solace to her as well as anyone listening.

In conversation with 1883, she delves into how her music has evolved in recent times, the experience of being on her first ever tour, how her craft helps through the highs and lows of borderline personality disorder (BPD) and much more.

What is the overarching theme and inspiration behind your new EP Bored of The Circus?

While the struggle with my mind is a thread that goes through the whole EP, it’s also really about acceptance and hope because fighting yourself is very tiring.

The single Cry Baby Cry, is a letter to your younger self about not suffering in silence with our emotions or mental health. If there was another message you could pass on to your younger self what would that be and why?

To my younger self I would say, be courageous and trust your gut and stop being so insecure. Only you know who you really are, nobody else does. And don’t be so afraid to show it.

If you had to trace your musical journey so far, how would you say you’ve evolved and where do you see yourself going from here? 

Since I’ve moved to London, I feel like I’ve evolved a lot in terms of my lyrical brain, the arrangements in my songs and the chord choices. I started working with my main collaborator, and one of my best friends. We wrote songs every week religiously for three years, and I think we both grew together at the same time. It helps bouncing off someone else in the room, rather than just being in your own head all the time.

What’s your favourite part of the music making process and what parts of it do you find most challenging?

I love every single part of writing the songs, I love working on the production with Halfrhymes and I love finessing every single little sound in the songs. The thing that is always the most challenging is the mixing. It’s such a huge thing to get right and it’s so time consuming and tiring on the ears. I sometimes go home after a day of mixing and all I can do is lay there in silence because my ears are ringing from hearing the same song 100 times haha!

If someone listened to your music what message do you hope they take away from it? 

That it’s okay to be who you are. It’s okay to be open about your struggles, that you don’t have to be ashamed of your suffering, of having anxiety, panic attacks or any kind of disorder. To the contrary; you are strong for surviving every single day. And I am so proud of each and every single person out there who struggles and fighting through it.

As someone with BPD myself, it’s great to see someone be so open with their mental health. How does music act as a coping tool for you? 

I had no idea you had BPD. It means a lot speaking to someone who has similar experiences. Music has been my outlet ever since I was seven years old. Writing my thoughts down, turning them into a melody and being able to sing them out loud is the most liberating thing in the world. I can barely describe with words what it does for me, it’s the most effective coping tool I’ve ever known.

On the flip side, have your lower moods ever felt like it comes in the way of your creativity and how do you overcome it? 

They definitely have. There’s times I struggle to get out of bed at all. There’s days I have to cancel everything I had planned because I feel paralysed in my sadness. But that’s okay. I’ve allowed myself to take those days, and thankfully the people I work with know me very well, so I never have to be afraid to offend anyone or be judged by anyone.

You’re already an open book and explore very intimate yet relatable themes in your music. What’s something you’ve yet to touch upon through song that you’d love to explore in the future? 

I’d love to explore love more. Until recently I’ve only known love as pain. But I am slowly learning that it doesn’t equate.

You’re on tour right now – how has it been so far? Besides performing live and interacting with people what have you missed most about touring and live shows?

The thing is, this is my first tour ever! So I had no idea what I was missing out on. It’s absolutely surreal, it’s like being in a bubble for two months and it’s hard to wrap your head around where you are, what day it is and that what you’re experiencing is even real. But honestly, going out into the audience after the shows and meeting the people that have just listened to you and connected to you is the most rewarding thing I’ve ever experienced.

Finally, if you could you condense your artistry into one lyric (from any of your songs so far) what would that be and why? 

I’m fighting fires all the time

EP Bored of the Circus is out now, follow Kings Elliot via @kingselliot

Interview Malvika Padin

Photography Jack Alexander