Jean Elliot shares a selection of tracks that shaped the world and storytelling behind her new EP, Butcher, Lover, Runner.
This song captures a sun-stained melancholy unlike any other song I’ve heard, and that gorgeous guitar tone is one I aspire to one day capture myself. ‘Carry Me Ohio’ carries that kind of sadness that settles into your bones, and I find myself listening to it whenever I’m driving along the beautiful scrappy landscapes that inspired my EP.
Milly Strange, “Don’t Call My Name”
Milly Strange is an Australian gothic goddess, to put it plainly. She’s also my dream collaboration. I listened to this track over and over while conceptualising the story behind ‘Butcher, Lover, Runner.’ The song just transports me to another place, where I find it easy to drift off and put myself in the shoes of my romantic bushranger characters.
The sludgy beat behind this one was a reference for how we wanted our guitars to sound especially, where you can headbang and move to the track, but it almost melts into the kick. MJ Lenderman is also one of the artists I say embodies ‘Alt-Country,’ which is a genre tag I like to use to describe ‘Butcher, Lover, Runner.’ That indie banger with a pedal steel type vibe.
Pictures has such a gorgeous tone to it that reminds me of my song ‘Beneath Your Sun.’ That track gets so sludgy, shoegaze-y, and drowned in distortion, but it still feels sweet in the vocal delivery, melodies and lushness. Bedlocked is so good at finding that. It’s my favourite kind of music to listen to and log out from the world when I want to escape into my imagination.
‘Nettles’ is a perfect song. The storytelling in not only the lyricism, but every instrumental detail draws you into her character’s mind. Ethel Cain’s discography is a masterclass in world-building, but this track especially taught me how important it is to pull the listener’s heartstrings.
You can hear Jean Elliot‘s new EP, Butcher, Lover, Runner. on all streaming platforms.
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