Q&A: ELIZA Introduces Second Phase of Musical Reinvention With Upcoming Album ‘A Sky Without Stars’

Q&AMusic

Aug 24

☆ BY CAM KHALID ☆

NO STRANGER TO POP — British singer-songwriter Eliza Doolittle first catapulted onto pop’s main stage when she released “Pack Up” in 2010. Dubbed the next Lily Allen, she had everything in the bag: chart-topping hits, performances at SXSW and Coachella, and a successful collaboration with Disclosure for one of the duo’s biggest selling singles, “You & Me,” which Doolittle was the brains and vocals behind.

But despite making waves in the mainstream pop realm, something wasn’t sitting right with the rising popstar. Doolittle decided to take a break away from the spotlight to focus on herself after releasing her second studio album In Your Hands in 2013.

Fast forward to 2017 when the singer-songwriter ditched her George Bernard Shaw–inspired moniker and re-emerged with a whole new direction and an entirely different sound. Gone are the discography of Eliza Doolittle’s chirpy, pop songs. Now, it’s just ELIZA, and a confrontational yet sensuous collection of groovy basslines layered with silky-smooth harmonies.

Her transition from fresh-faced pop darling to R&B star isn't something new. With various genres stretching beyond previously drawn boundaries and flirting with new territories, musicians are constantly itching to explore such areas while finding themselves and their true sound. After all, they say the best musicians tend to be masters of reinvention.

Our first taste of ELIZA came with the critically acclaimed album A Real Romantic¸, featuring singles such as “Alone & Unafraid,” “All Night,” and “Wasn’t Looking,” which spawned a COLORS rendition with almost 25 million YouTube views to date.

Set to be released on Sept. 16, ELIZA’s upcoming sophomore album, A Sky Without Stars marks a continuation of the second phase in her musical reinvention. It features the minimalist yet edgy “Straight Talker,” the bass-heavy “Heat of the Moon,” and the hypnotically mellow “Everywhere I’ll Ever Be.” And if it's anything like what we've heard so far, ELIZA’s new album will be a sonically stunning mix of neo-soul, indie, and hip-hop.

Read on below to find out more about ELIZA’s new album, performing live again post-lockdown, and her much-needed musical transformation.

LUNA: It has been four years since your last album — how are you feeling about the new album release?

ELIZA: I’m kind of ready to go. It’s been finished for a while, maybe a year and a half ago, but I kept tweaking it and working on the mixes. I really took my time with it because I really wanted to make sure that we worked on something cool for the release of it, including the [music] videos. I’m really gagging to share it with everyone!

LUNA: How long have you been working on the album for?

ELIZA: Well… Before COVID kicked off, I was writing a lot. But then, I have just gotten in my stride with it. I would say about six months or so in 2019.

LUNA: Could you tell us the meaning behind the title, A Sky Without Stars?

ELIZA: The album’s title is a thinly veiled reference to pollution and how climate change prevents us from seeing the stars — preventing us from enjoying what’s in front of us as we navigate a time where we’re inundated with an onslaught of overstimulation and misinformation.

LUNA: What does the album mean to you?

ELIZA: As a whole, the album is more of a confrontational album rather than what my previous album was, which was an escapist album, trying to get away from all the problems. A Sky Without Stars is more focused on confronting the issues and observing some things I haven’t noticed before, things I think are important. They all entail things like connection, love, openness, care, and kindness for each other and also for the world we’re living in. I just wish that we can all get along really (laughs). I’m basically a massive hippie!

At the same time, I think there’s a certain strength in [working together] and changing things — not just talk[ing] about it all but also act[ing] on it. We have to be the change. It’s a tough one because whenever I have these conversations with people, I’m not trying to be forceful with it; I’m not trying to tell people what to do. I’m obviously trying to do that within myself and that’s why this album is very intimate — just me talking to myself about what to do and also having a conversation [with the listeners] about what we could do as a united group.

LUNA: To celebrate the album release, you’ll be performing a special headline show at The Social in London on Sept. 18. How does it feel like to perform in front of crowds once again post-COVID?

ELIZA: I did a show last November and I was really nervous before it because when I was making the album, it was only me and Fin [Finlay “Phairo” Robson] working in this tiny little shared studio. All the vocals on this album are almost whispered, as it was just us in this tiny room and it’s not like I was projecting or being used in large rooms performing. When it came to performing for the first time [after lockdown], I definitely was really nervous and questioning whether I really wanted to do it anymore. But as soon as I got on stage, I absolutely loved it. I can’t wait to do more now!

LUNA: In terms of performances, are you looking to extend to the festival stage or are you still keeping things intimate with smaller audience groups? What’s your comfort zone?

ELIZA: I’m definitely up for doing festivals, maybe for next year. But I’m up for anything really. I like small venues, I like big venues. I’m up for the challenges of any stage. But I definitely want — again for the show — to do a proper show that leaves people feeling hopeful, strong and loving.

It’s the most beautiful thing when you’re in a room full of people and everyone is just giving positive vibes to you [and vice versa]. It’s the way every interaction should be: open and excited.

LUNA: Is there any particular song from the album that you’re excited to perform live?

ELIZA: There’s a song called “In a Minute” that I absolutely love and feel flowy when I sing it. And “Heat of the Moon” actually, which is similar in that way.

LUNA: You were formerly known as Eliza Doolittle and now ELIZA — what sets the two apart? Why did you decide to rebrand?

ELIZA: Well, for me, when I look back on it all, it almost feels like I was in a band and I left the band to become a solo artist. To me, the band was like a major label with people I stopped seeing eye to eye with. And losing the “Doolittle” side of that person was kind of part of losing that whole group of people and just starting afresh. It was a bit of a symbolic thing for me.

“Doolittle” was never really my real name but Eliza is my real name and something I really wanted to hold on to. It wasn’t that Eliza Doolittle wasn’t really me but I guess it was part of being a bigger thing with other people. It was nice to let that go and do something different.

LUNA: Does this mean that Eliza Doolittle has ceased to exist? Can fans still expect songs from the early days, such as “Pack Up” and “Skinny Genes” to make a setlist appearance in live shows?

ELIZA: I don’t think so. Not at this stage, as I’m not in that place anymore. I feel quite separate from that music and it’s a different side of me that I feel doesn't exist anymore. But that’s the beauty of life — always changing.

LUNA: Hey, if people want to revisit the songs, they can always search them on Spotify!

ELIZA: Exactly! Sometimes they come on on shuffle and I’d be like, “Oh my god, this girl! I remember her!”

LUNA: Rebranding usually comes with a musical reinvention too, so how would you describe your music now?

ELIZA: I never know how to put it into one description, but I would say that it’s always groovy. I love great grooves, I love drums. I love being hypnotized by the rhythm of music in general so I always try to incorporate that into my own music. If it’s not soothing me in some way then I kind of get turned off by it and will want to change it until it is soothing me.

It’s really hard to box it in. You just want people to feel it for themselves and see. But I’d like you to tell me what it is because everyone has a different way of describing music.

LUNA: You know what, when I was listening to the singles, I felt like I was in a dream-like state — flowy, relaxed, and light.

ELIZA: Yes, add that in the interview!

LUNA: How did you discover that R&B and soul is more of your authentic songwriting voice rather than the pop that you were doing as Eliza Doolittle?

ELIZA: I’ve always been authentic. It’s not like I suddenly became myself. (Pauses) Let me take that back actually. When you’re young, you’re trying to get by and survive while taking all the opportunities that come your way — doing what you should do rather than what you actually want to do. Well, I definitely did that in some respect. And maybe you’re right, maybe it’s the more authentic side of me now, doing what I love and not doubting it.

LUNA: Do you feel a sense of pressure with trends to deliver a type of music out there, or do you just want to write whatever you feel like writing?

ELIZA: Even when I was younger, I didn’t necessarily want to be in trend. I’ve always gone against that. But when I was younger, I was probably more into pop culture and pop music. What was just on my radar was more trend-based. Nowadays, I’m less in-tuned with pop culture but I still love pop music and [I’m] not totally alienating myself from it. But now I’m just not as in-tuned with it, and I don’t know what’s trendy. So I’m just really happy doing what I do.

LUNA: Any under-the-radar artists you’re listening to right now?

ELIZA: Ojerime — she’s great! Really love her music. I also love discovering music from previous eras. This is really random but my boyfriend introduced me to this band called Snot from the ’90s. I only know three songs but I’m absolutely loving it. I’ve always been more of an R&B girl growing up so I don’t really know much rock music. But I’m really enjoying them.

LUNA: Do you have any other exciting projects in the pipeline besides the new album release? What’s next for you?

ELIZA: I’m writing more music even before [the new album] comes out. I want to keep having more and more to share. And I think we’re going to do more live shows as well.

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We couldn’t be more stoked to have Suriel Hess as our new headliner for our upcoming LA show 🤩 🫶 Not gonna lie, us & Notorious Noise kinda went OFF with this line up & you’re not gonna wanna miss it - ticket link in bio 🎫