We recently featured Elisabeth Elektra when she teamed up with Mogwai on the immersive, anthemic and self-realized track, Broken Promises, so when we heard that the star was back with Desire, we couldn’t wait to listen, and were fortunate enough to have a brief chat with the talented artist about her philosophies, intentional depth, supporting Placebo on tour and her inspirations!

We learn that Desire is a queer anthem inspired by icons like Prince, Christine and the Queens, and Lady Gaga. It celebrates individuality, body positivity, femme joy, and the reclamation of sexual agency. The song builds on Elektra’s pop foundation with infectious hooks and melodicism, evoking peak Madonna with Nile Rodgers‘ influence. Its cinematic production aims for timelessness while staying contemporary, offering a joyful lift amid challenging times.

Elektra describes Desire as a sanctuary for voices that have been silenced, rebelling against societal norms and celebrating all bodies and sexualities. The song serves as a reminder that one’s desires are personal and valid. The accompanying music video, created with art director Greta Kalva, draws inspiration from Greek mythology, dream life, and queer art, offering a visually striking exploration of sensuality and creativity.

Desire stands as more than just a song; it is a cultural statement promoting diversity, challenging societal norms, and reclaiming personal autonomy. Cultural critic Zeke Apollyon described it as the musical embodiment of OnlyFans, celebrating sexual freedom and positivity.

Love the 80s vibes of Desire! Can you tell us more about the sonic inspirations?

When I wrote Desire, it came together very quickly and felt fully formed. It was one of those songs that felt channeled. I was listening to a lot of Prince and Christine & The Queens at the time, and I think their influences definitely crept in subconsciously.

When I started producing it, I tried a few different vibes on my own and played it live early on in a couple of different ways. I believe in letting a song evolve naturally during production, and ultimately, it felt like it wanted a strong ’80s pop energy.

When I got in the studio with my friend and co-producer Jonny, the song already knew what it wanted to be, so it was a smooth process. I love the bassline Jonny wrote on the DX7, I think it brings so much. Overall Desire was super easy to work on, and I loved making it!

What about the philosophical messages on empowerment and gender?

I think as a femme person we grow up with so much baggage around sexuality, I don’t come from a religious family but growing up in France exposed me to the pervasive influence of Catholic guilt. Religion’s cultural baggage can impact everyone, regardless of whether they actively participate or not. 

I was a stripper from age sixteen, and that combined with my artistic practice I guess reflects that part of my path in life is to learn to connect with and express my own sexuality authentically. With Desire however, I wanted to shift the focus from the personal to the collective. Desire is everyone’s song. Its about alchemising your power through sexuality. I want everyone to be able to safely and freely connect with and express their sexuality without fear of persecution, something we unfortunately still face and have a responsibility to fight for. 

The artwork is phenomenal! What inspired it and can you elaborate on the creative process?

Thank you! Greta Kalva is an incredible photographer and a visionary artist. We connected spiritually with a shared love of astrology and mythology, and after having listened to the album she came up with different sets and art directed the shoot. A lot of her work is about alchemy, so it’s a perfect fit. 

What’s it like opening for Placebo?

A total dream. They are genuinely lovely people, and their fans have been so receptive and kind to me. It was great to play the shows with my husband Stuart and my friend and collaborator Jonny, we are all fans. Jonny and I actually listened to Placebo a lot while making (my album) Hypersigil so it felt magical in that way. A real gift to play with a band I have such huge love for. 

Any news on what’s coming next for Elisabeth Elektra?

I’m releasing Hypersigil in January 2025, and there will be more music before then. I’m also working on new material in the studio as I write this, which I’m very excited about. 

Desire has been added to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our new TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream Elisabeth Elektra‘s wider discography, immerse ourselves in the stunning visual for the opus, and anticipate the release of Hypersigil!

The post Catching up with Elisabeth Elektra to celebrate the release of her intentional and captivating new single, Desire appeared first on KIMU.

Drawing us in with an atmospheric synth melody before expanding into a luscious and dimensional guitar soundscape, Elisabeth Elektra opens Broken Promises with evocative and existential prose as she sings, “Broken Promises mean nothing to me, feel the world closing in, oh my darling will you lay with me, as the veil grows thin..”

We deeply connect with Elisabeth Elektra‘s cosmic lyricism, and the talented artist’s conscious flow, laced with poetic prowess and thought-provoking themes. The production showcases instrumental mastery, and we are in awe of the psychedelic adjacency and the immersive nature of the opus.

Speaking on the release, Elisabeth confesses, “I wrote this song while I was going through a particularly difficult time in my life. Everything felt so unstable and disorienting, but I realised even at the time that I was being forged by trauma into a stronger, more resilient and powerful person.”

The star continues with reference to her intentional relationship with her artistry, “Music has always been a way for me to channel more difficult emotions such as rage into something productive. The song is about the realisation that all the things we worry about really don’t matter, only love matters. Everything else fades away.”

Naturally, the dynamic track is naturally written and performed by the Glasgow-based pop polymath herself. It is also co-produced with Jonny Scott (CHVRCHES), and features guest guitars from Stuart Braithwaite of Mogwai.

Broken Promises comes with a captivating, cinematic music video which takes on an avant-garde edge – directed, filmed and edited by Agnes Haus, showcasing a visionary performance from Elisabeth Elektra as she brings to life the overarching concept of the piece with drama and intrigue.

We learn that the inspiring Broken Promises is a story of trauma to “triumph, liberation and self-actualisation.” In a world filled with chaos, Broken Promises is designed to remind us that amidst destruction, there is an equal potential for creation.

The single is released ahead of an upcoming EP of the same name, which will follow on November 16, 2023. In the meantime, we have added Broken Promises to our New Music Spotlight playlist, whilst we anticipate the entirety of the record, and continue to stream Elisabeth Elektra‘s exquisite discography!

The post Elisabeth Elektra teams up with Mogwai on immersive, anthemic and self-realized new single, Broken Promises appeared first on KIMU.