Establishing the mood with a cerebral soundscape with metallic textures and a reverberating piano melody, Elynn opens Don’t Be Too Sad with the lyrics, “Heading back, the sunlight strokes my hair, the city glows in rosy light, it feels warm but I’m cold inside, I can’t find what I’m feeling, lost in a wave I’ve never faced before…”
We immediately connect with the visual nature of the prose, the poetic prowess and the vulnerability that manifests. In essence, Don’t Be Too Sad is about the painful aftermath of a breakup. Elynn knows the relationship is ending but is struggling to accept it emotionally.
She tries to appear strong and detached, and tells her former partner not to cry and insists that everything will be alright, whilst privately she is hurting, unable to sleep, crying alone, and wondering whether if her ex is also falling apart. There is a bittersweet acceptance that the pair will slowly drift apart and eventually become strangers. On a self-realized level, Elynn emphasizes that their love was genuine while it lasted. The repeated “it’s a beautiful day” feels like self-reassurance despite the sadness.
There is no doubt that Don’t Be Too Sad holds a cinematic allure. We could imagine the track landing a sync placement in an episode of Normal People, Crew Girl, The Summer I Turned Pretty, Heartstopper or The Last Song. The restraint in Elynn’s performance feels intimate and believable, rooted in authenticity.
She comments, “When I was creating this song, many people around me were going through breakups. Their goodbyes weren’t dramatic or loud. Instead, I could see a quiet sadness they were carrying on their own, often keeping it to themselves. Seeing that kind of calm yet deeply held sadness became the emotional foundation of this song. Through my music, I want listeners to know that I have felt similar pain and had similar thoughts too, and that they are not alone in what they are feeling. Sometimes, I believe that knowing someone else understands your pain can be more comforting than grand words of encouragement or hopeful promises. With this release, I wanted to offer that quiet sense of comfort and connection to anyone who may be carrying their own sadness.”
We can hear the influence of The Marías and Nessa Barrett’s yet there is no doubt that with Don’t Be Too Sad, Elynn is designing a dreamy sonic universe of her own. Fans of Lana Del Rey, Tate McRae, and Taylor Swift will also be able to connect with what Elynn has created.
Needless to say, we are excited to see where Elynn takes this project next. We have added Don’t Be Too Sad to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we anticipate future releases from the rising star.