Five and a half years ago we chatted with Elissa Mielke when she released her 4-song EP under the name, Mieke . Now, the Canadian singer-songwriter is back with two new songs, Trying and Palace (with music video) and we're ready for more when she has it to give.
In addition to her music, Elissa is also an accomplished actress and model. She's been working for years in all three disciplines and back in 2015 we asked if she thought she'd have to choose one career path and she said, she would "keep being creative and performing in different ways. Sometimes I'll do more of one kind of performance, and at other times another." And she has. And now we have two new songs for the musical stream of her creativity.
In an email talking about the releases, Elissa said that the songs are very personal to her, but they weren't intended to be for her. Both Palace and Trying started as songs being written for other artists, but "ended up being things I needed to learn." And while I'm sure whoever she had been planning to write them for wishes they could have had a crack at them, we're happy to hear Elissa back with new music to share.
Let's start with Palace - and the music video.
"This video was shot in Northern Ontario by Laura Lynn Petrick who also directed it. We ran around the (CNE in) Toronto at night, and into the forests of Ontario (where I grew up) in the day with a few women and I just flailed around and existed and we created a little story that relates to both of these songs: wrestling with, fighting against, embracing, and building relationship with versions of ourselves that we're all given, or adopt, or identify with. I've found a lot of healing in my relationships and friendships with women and this video is also about that." - Elissa Mielke
Hit play to watch the video for Palace now!
Elissa Mielke - Palace
Elissa and I traded a couple of emails, and about Palace, she said, "This started as a voice note, and it's not a fully formed song in the way I typically like to write things. But I like that about it, it's honest and raw. I fell for someone and felt vulnerable and said 'Can you please be who I hope you are?' but similarly, in hindsight, I have found the most freedom in knowing that no one will ever be defined by the narratives we create about who they should be, or who we hope they should be in our heads. All we can do is ask that of ourselves: 'Can you please be who I hope you are?' And give ourselves the tools to exist in the most fulfilling way possible." She added, " Turns out that was something I needed to hear too; learning to come through for myself even when others can't or don't, and to love myself with the same fullness I do other people."
Apple has these songs in the Singer/Songwriter bucket, and after listening and thinking and wondering if that was the right call, I think it is. You can call it pop, but that would be just as much of a "throwing it in to make it fit" kind of thing. The piano and vibe and personal nature of the songs, it's all part and parcel, it all goes together and has to for it to work. So I'm into it as a fit.
There's also no denying that Elissa Mielke is a singer-songwriter. That's who she is as a musician. Who she has been, and who we expect her to be as she moves forward.
When I asked Elissa about Trying, she said, "I started this song years ago, and it's funny to think about how it formed. I think it's essentially a song for my inner critic. Telling her off. 🙂
Trying came at a time when I was so frustrated with the sense that I'd never be good enough and was burnt out from trying to please others and sacrificing more than was healthy. My own insecurities had drawn me to people who were critical of me, and I wasn't confident enough to talk back in person yet- but I could through this song. In hindsight, I realize it's for myself more than anyone. I thought I was writing it for these people who were treating me badly, but really it was for myself, saying 'Girl. Not everyone is going to like you. Some people you can't please. Give me a break. Can't you see I'm trying?' When I was able to love myself and find empathy for myself, I found people who knew how to love me too and had better space for empathy in general."Note: I love the piano in contemporary music. And this one gives it to me wonderfully.
Hit play on the YouTube clip now to listen to Trying!
Elissa Mielke - Trying
Each of these two new songs brings their own messaging, baggage, connection, and story. They feel like they're in similar but not the same specific spaces. And when I see the run times, with Trying coming up in just under six (6) minutes, while Palace is a shorter (almost by half) 2:57. The ability for something to dig its way in while you listen when there are six minutes of feelings flowing at you is pretty high (personally) and it does. And, I like that they are different and that these aren't two songs that could be swapped for each other.
But, I do want more now.
If you want to know a little more about Elissa, here are four things she told us back in the summer of 2015.
1) Her first language was German.
2) Swimming in a lake or ocean is her happy place, always.
3) She loves reading.
4) She plays the trombone really well.
There you go, you know more now than you did before.
Hit play to listen to Palace and Trying one more time, and share them with friends so they can listen too.
