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Interview: Elizma on letting go in emotionally charged new single, "What's In My Head"

From her first recording session to the release of her original music, Elizma is swiftly making her mark in the music industry. Despite being in the early stages of her career, her blend of powerful vocals, introspective lyrics, and a truly unique sound sets her apart from today’s rising talents. 


Elizma’s music speaks to the heart. Her ability to seamlessly transition from soaring belts and high arias to delicate whispers delivers a raw, emotional experience for the listener. As a young singer-songwriter, her lyrics are strikingly profound, delving into the deep intricacies of the heart and mind, making her artistry feel well beyond her years. 


Her current single, ‘What’s In My Head’, touches on the struggle of leaving a relationship while grappling with lingering emotional attachments. “I left a relationship that was toxic, but I found it harder than I expected to shake the idea of going back to my ex,” Elizma shares. “Despite consciously knowing this person isn’t good for me, the tape of all the positive memories played in my head, overwriting the conclusive evidence that he would only hurt me again if given the chance.”


FLEX sat down with Elizma to chat all things music and her latest single.


 

Thank you for sitting down and talking to FLEX, can you tell us a bit about how you got into music?


I’ve been singing since I was 8 years old. I was in choir and I always dreamed of being a singer. I didn’t grow up with a lot of money, nor did I know anyone in the music industry so following my dreams seemed so out of reach. After working in food service for a few years, I got the most random opportunity to work at one of the few recording studios in Louisiana. I wasn’t recording my music just yet because I was still finishing my college degree. I just knew that in order to become a recording artist, I would have to start finding a way to be around music in any capacity. Around that time, my now producer and manager, Jeff Glixman, (most famously known for his work as a producer for the rock band, Kansas) was at the studio frequently working on other projects. Jeff recognized my work ethic after a few run-ins at the studio and he offered me a part-time job as his administrative assistant. After a few weeks, I got the audacity to ask if he wanted to hear one of my songs... He immediately heard the raw talent in my voice and encouraged me to pursue music. The rest will be history.


Who would you say are your biggest musical influences?


My musical influences stem all across the board. I grew up listening to Carrie Underwood, Evanescence, and Nickelback. In my teens, I felt inspired by Rnb like Erykah Badu, HER, Snoh Aalegra. Right now, I love Allie X and Billie Eilish. Because of how diverse my musical taste is, I find it hard to explain exactly what my ‘genre’ is, but I think that’s the beauty in doing something that’s truly unique.


Congratulations on your brand-new single 'What's In My Head' —what inspired this particular release?


Thanks. ‘What’s in My Head’ was inspired by my last relationship. I knew it was toxic, I knew that it was inevitable that my ex would hurt me, but I was responsible for choosing to accept that for myself. ‘What’s in My Head,’ is about recognizing that I truly was the only one who could save myself. The song is like a metaphor for me shaking myself and saying “What the hell are we doing here?” I think of it like the battle cry at the beginning of my war to become a better version of myself, after wasting so much time tying my self-worth to relationships.


How do you channel personal experiences into your songwriting, and what do you hope listeners gain from connecting with your music?


At times I wish that I could make happy-go-lucky music but it’s just not in me to write like that yet. So far, almost all of my songs are reflections of my personal experiences. They serve as a platform for me to speak about my healing journey. I want people to know that healing is possible. I want people to avoid making the mistakes I have, but also to know that mistakes are necessary for growth. I want people to know that their situation today doesn't have to be their situation for the rest of their lives.


Each aspect of music—writing, recording, practicing, and playing live—offers something different. Can you share a particularly meaningful moment from each?


Writing is my strong suit. I began writing poems in high school after reading Shakespeare as an assignment. My teachers would praise me for my ability to express myself through my essays. For my high school graduation, I won the writing contest for my commencement speech which was a metaphor about how high school was like one big song. Giving the speech was the first time I got to share my writing with an audience and it made me love speeches. 


When I’m recording, I will sing the same line over and over to get the perfect delivery in every syllable. It takes me 30 minutes to an hour for my voice to get agile but once I get to that point, the rest of the world is a blur. I probably did over 60 takes for “What’s in My Head,” - not because I didn’t sound good, but because I was having so much fun.


Practicing is a challenge for me. I hated studying in school and to me practicing is like studying. Regardless, I will practice for intervals of 40 minutes with 10-15 minute breaks to give my voice a rest over the course of 3-4 hours. I just remind myself of all the incredible talent out there and remind myself how fortunate I am to have this time.


Playing live is a new thing to me. I actually have a bit of anxiety around performing but I love music too much to let anxiety stop me. I know my songs are too powerful to be confined by fear. I suck it up and get on that stage no matter how I’m feeling.


Is there a song in your repertoire that holds a particularly deep personal meaning for you? Can you share the story or inspiration behind it?


My next release, “Secrets,” holds a special spot in my heart. It’s a musically complex song with a fast tempo, yet it holds a lot of meaning. It took about a year to complete... I was in rehab when I heard the original [instrumental] beat on a CD that someone burned for me. I couldn’t come up with any lyrics until the first day I was out of rehab. I knew I had to do something to occupy my mind so I sat down and played the track over and over until I finally came up with something. The lyrics were inspired by the quote “Secrets keep me sick,” which is a saying commonly used by Alcoholics Anonymous. It usually refers to a person who feels ashamed about their substance abuse and instead of reaching out for help, they keep it a secret. To me, however, there is a second meaning: the traumas we keep secret, keep us sick. What I mean by this is that by bottling up our emotions and never getting to the route of our problems, we aren’t able to fully heal. Many of us carry the weight of childhood traumas on our shoulders until the day we die, and that bleeds into the next generation. I wanted this song to spread the message that it’s okay to talk about it to the right person. Also, I feel that this song is a protest against the pop culture trend of glorifying excessive drug use. I think it’s really important that right now recording artists should be aware that kids are out there dying from trying a drug they heard about in a song.


What are your goals for the future with your music?


I really just want to leave a positive impact on society. I want to leave a legacy that promotes personal growth in the hopes that generations to come will have a more peaceful existence. My goal is to have a big enough platform to reach everyone who needs it at that particular moment.


What message or feeling do you hope listeners take away from your music?


I feel like my last response kind of answers this one but please feel free to rephrase your question to be more specific if you are looking for something different.


To wrap things up, is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?


Thanks for taking the time to read this article. Feel free to connect with me on social media. @elizma.music (tiktok & instagram) and Elizma Music on Facebook.


 

Listen to "What's In My Head":



Connect with Elizma: TIKTOK | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | WEBSITE | SPOTIFY


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