Kings Elliot—the Swiss-British indie-pop siren you might’ve clocked buying blue hair dye at your local chemist—is back to lure us further into her melancholic blue-sphere. With Lana Del Rey’s stamp of approval (yes, she opened for her at London’s Hyde Park), the countdown is officially on for her debut album, Born Blue, to splash down on our playlists. In the meantime, she’s keeping the emotional tide high with ‘Love And Landslides’—a tender, gut-punch ballad that’s equal parts ache and anthem.
We caught up with her to talk all things Born Blue, advice from a certain Scottish crooner-slash-comedian (looking at you, Lewis Capaldi), and everything in between. Dive in.
You’ve been music-obsessed since the binder-full-of-lyrics days—truly the OG Spotify playlist. What’s one song from your childhood that absolutely imprinted on you, in the way only a life-altering tune can?
‘Big Big World’ by Emilia was that song for me. I sang a solo part of it with the choir when I was nine years old—it was the first time I held a microphone and sang in front of an audience. That moment kind of changed everything. I remember feeling terrified, but also like something inside me clicked. The lyrics were so tender, even though I didn’t fully understand them yet. I think it was the beginning of me realising how much I needed music to express what I couldn’t say otherwise.
We’re a little obsessed with your upcoming album title, Born Blue—it’s giving poetic melancholy and perfectly matches your ethereal aesthetic (plus, that hair!). What does the color blue mean to you?
Thank you so much:)!! Blue has always felt like home to me. It’s the color of the sky and the ocean, symbolising vastness and freedom. There’s something about that openness that mirrors the way I feel things: boundless, intense, sometimes overwhelming. Blue carries so many meanings—melancholy, sadness, but also strength. It carries pain with grace and pride. Born Blue is about embracing every part of my identity. Some of us are just born with more emotion than we can contain, and for me, blue represents that beautiful overflow.
Speaking of blue hues, the ‘Love and Landslides’ cover is a whole mood. The confetti, the curtain, your leg caught mid-escape—it’s giving emotional symbolism. What story were you aiming to tell through that image?
Thank you so much for noticing—that really means a lot. That photo captures the feeling of being caught between two extremes, which is something I’ve lived with every day. It reflects the inner conflict of “I hate you, don’t leave me”—a push and pull that people with BPD often experience in relationships. The dried rose petals floating in the air symbolise the intensity and fragility of love, while my disappearing behind the curtain is a nod to how I tend to retreat when I get scared—fading in and out emotionally. But despite all that, this song carries a hopeful message. I wrote it for the one person who has accepted me exactly as I am and has supported me through my most turbulent moments.
You’ve worked with James Conway Ellis more than once now—clearly a power duo. What new creative rabbit hole did he lead you down to bring ‘Love and Landslides’ to life?
I have been working together for over six years now, and there’s such a natural, creative chemistry between us. We really understand each other, both as artists and as close friends, which makes diving into deeply personal and vulnerable songs feel safe, effortless even.
The track touches on your journey with Borderline Personality Disorder, and Born Blue feels like a powerful declaration after years of mental health challenges. What’s a hard-earned lesson from your first 30 years that’s become your North Star?
That I can feel everything and still survive it. For a long time, my emotions felt like they were trying to kill me. But I’ve learned that they’re just trying to be seen. My BPD doesn’t make me broken—it makes me sensitive, intuitive, and intense. My North Star is remembering that all feelings pass, and all I need to do is ride the waves and not let them drown me.
We’re diehard Grey’s Anatomy fans—mostly for the musical gut punches—and ‘The Outsider’ being featured had us screaming into the void. How did you find out your song was getting its moment in Shondaland?
Oh my god, I screamed too! I found out through my manager, and I genuinely thought it was a joke at first! When I watched the scene, it was so surreal!! That show has held so much emotional weight for me and so many people I know, so to have The Outsider be a part of it was MIND-BLOWING.
Staying in the Grey’s lane for a sec—if you had to pick one lyric from ‘Love and Landslides’ to be immortalized in dramatic TV monologue history, which line would it be?
Oh god, that’s really hard!! I think this part: “In my mind we’re falling from great heights / into a swan dive / I hope it never ends.”
Your bond with fans on TikTok is seriously heartwarming—between emotional duets and fan-made scrapbooks, it’s basically a digital hug-fest. What’s been the most unexpectedly fulfilling part of connecting that way?
Haha, I love ‘digital hug-fest!’ Honestly, I think feeling seen by people who live halfway across the world but somehow understand me more than people I’ve known my whole life.
Your own European tour kicks off in October, but before that, you opened for Lewis Capaldi (casual!). What’s a nugget of wisdom or backstage secret from him that you’re carrying into this next chapter?
This was actually one of my very first shows, and I was seriously overwhelmed backstage, barely holding it together before stepping out. I remember asking Lewis if he ever gets anxious, too, if that feeling ever goes away. He told me he absolutely does—all the time. But over the years, he’s just learned how to cope with it in his own way. His anxiety might come from different places than mine, but it was a powerful reminder that no one’s immune to it—not even someone as talented and successful as him. I found that both comforting and, if I’m honest, a little scary. But mostly, it made me feel less alone.
Last one—and it’s very important. You’re famously animal-obsessed, so tell us: if this album era had a spirit animal, what majestic (or chaotic) creature would it be?
I adore this question!! I had to think for a few minutes, but now that I have the answer, I can’t imagine anything else!! The bluebird is definitely the spirit animal of this album. It’s seen as a symbol of hope and healing, yet it’s beautifully fragile and free at the same time. That’s what Born Blue is to me.
Time to go on a blue quest—find your favorite blue thing (a plushie, a scrunchie, or maybe a bold blue hair streak?) in honor of Born Blue dropping September 26th. Got your item? Brilliant. Tell us what it is on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook—we’re dying to see your blue-niverse.
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