Beth Elsden is a singer-songwriter whose debut arrives after five years of quiet development. Her music, which pairs dream pop elements with intimate storytelling, is a result of the patience and longing it took to get her here.
While most of her idols began releasing music in their teens and early twenties, Beth found herself in the waiting room of her life while writing and recording her debut EP. She grew up writing songs, performing in local musical theatre productions and busking on the street. From a young age she aspired to become a singer-songwriter, even requesting a day in the studio recording an album of original songs for her 11th birthday. Though once she reached her twenties, she began to question what direction to take. She had lost her child-like confidence and was met with self-doubt and inhibitions. While studying at the University of Otago, she met her collaborator, Dunedin-based artist and producer Abby Wolfe, who encouraged her to record her music, not just write it.
Her writing began to explore the moments in life where you have to make the best with what you have, where you acclimatise to loss and find yourself standing on the sidelines of your own life, the “waiting room”. At this time, Beth was pondering themes of vulnerability, avoidance, loneliness and regaining confidence. When she began recording her music, her childhood dreams started to return, only more vivid and with impatience. She had the opportunity to open for Kiwi artists Dan Sharp and PRINS which further increased her appetite to become an artist in her own right. Despite feeling eager to release her music, it ultimately took five years to finish her first body of work. Now, she realises that time was fateful and critical. She wouldn’t be the artist she is today had she not sat back and developed her sound, style and self-assuredness.
Beth’s music is for the ones who are waiting to be seen, to be chosen, to become who they truly desire to be. She knows firsthand that pursuing your dreams is a longer road than you’d think and her music is here to accompany anyone still in the process of blooming. She envisions this first chapter of her music is best listened to on a late night drive on the motorway or as a flight takes off.
Inspired by her musical theatre and choral background, she plays around with harmonies, vocal layers and dramatic melodies to create her sound. Her music will slot right in next to Taylor Swift, Gracie Abrams, Lizzy McAlpine, Maisie Peters and Gretta Ray in fan playlists. Now debuting with intention, Beth Elsden invites listeners to join her in the waiting room.
