Singer and songwriter Elliot Wren made their recording debut in 2020, but has been on the music scene in their hometown of Boston, Massachusetts long before that. They are a non-binary artist looking to inspire others in the LGBTQ+ community to face their fears and find happiness which you’ll find in their music as they tackle gender issues head-on. “Time Bomb” is no exception.
The song was released on December 17, 2021 and is an intimate dive into Elliot Wren’s psyche. “Time Bomb” takes us through an internal dialogue between the artist and their conscience. “Don’t be intrusive, don’t make a scene” the conscience tells them making them a “Time Bomb” waiting to implode from the pressures placed upon them. We hear the artist essentially call out their conscience for bringing them down with the repetition of “taking me down.” It really can resonate with others who have similar struggles, particularly those who have that nagging voice telling them they’re not good enough.
“Time Bomb” has a whole new sound compared to that of their previous releases like “RIP My Diary” or “Good Luck.” Leaning more into edgy, Southern rock, or indie rock, it definitely pulls from 90s alt music while their other songs are more pop-inspired. “Time Bomb” opens with a solo electric guitar as Elliot Wren sings, but when we reach the chorus, the rest of the band joins in.
You can stream “Time Bomb” now on your favorite streaming service or buy it on iTunes or Amazon. Follow Elliot Wren on their socials for music updates.
Q&A with Elliot Wren
Q: We really love the vibe for “Time Bomb” and it’s been on repeat all weekend. What was the creative process for “Time Bomb” like?
ELLIOT: Thank you so much! At the time, I was studying in a 5-week summer program through Berklee College Of Music. I think the pre-chorus was the first thing that I thought of, and I believe I was walking back from a class as I thought of it. It’s hard to remember exact details because I wrote it a few years ago, but I remember the pre-chorus was finalized by the time I got to one of the common areas of campus and I wrote the rest there.
Q: Did any real-life events occur in your life that inspired “Time Bomb?”
ELLIOT: Yes. When I was at Berklee I placed myself under a lot of pressure. Everyone else who I was in classes with looked from the outside like they knew so much more than me and were so sure of what they were doing. Of course that probably wasn’t true in reality, everyone was there to learn and grow just like I was, but at 16 I wasn’t able to understand that. I got really down on myself for a number of reasons thinking I didn’t belong there and didn’t really belong anywhere, and my social anxiety skyrocketed.
Q: You have been writing for over a decade now. What advice do you have for up and coming artists to get their name out there?
ELLIOT: Oh Gods, I hadn’t even realized I’ve technically been writing for a decade. That really took me back. As for up-and-coming artists, I really feel the most important thing is to make sure that your music is your own. Make sure you do this on your own terms and know that you don’t have to make compromises that jeopardize your love for your art. Your music is yours alone, and you are the only one who gets to choose what happens with it.
Q: What has been your favorite song to perform so far and why?
ELLIOT: I haven’t performed much since COVID hit, and many of the songs I currently have released weren’t out before COVID. But in the few gigs that I have felt safe to do, I have really loved performing “Good Luck.” It’s such a personal song to me and I love that every time I perform it feels like a little bit of closure.
Q: What has been a pivotal moment in your life when you decided to follow your path as a musician?
ELLIOT: This kind of has to do with what I said earlier about making your music your own, but I feel the most pivotal thing I ever did to follow my path as a musician was to take a break and sort out what I actually wanted. I decided to reevaluate where my music was going as well as what parts of it I loved and which parts I would be happier without. I ended up realizing that recording and writing music was where my heart was, and the rest of it was a byproduct, however enjoyable the other parts were. So that led me to decide to focus more on my energy on creating music rather than being out at gigs performing all the time, especially because of COVID. This break lasted a while, and I’m still in the process of getting back into the swing of things, but the music feels so much better now. I am still listening to advice about what will help my music and what will hinder it, but ultimately being in control has left me feeling so much freer to create content I love.
Q: What would you like to tell your supporters out there?
ELLIOT: Thank you for sticking with me, your support has genuinely meant the world to me. I hope that, when it gets safe again, I can be out there performing and being around you all. I look forward to that so much. I have so much new stuff that I’ve created over the past year or so that I can’t wait to share with you, and I hope you guys are looking forward to it as well. Thank you again!
Reviewed & Interviewed by Dana L. Sullivan
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