Q: Hi Eleanor! So lovely to be speaking with you today! I love the infectious beat and energy of “Losing Focus” Can you walk me through the process of creating a duet?
ELEANOR KINGSTON: Thank you so much! Making this song was so fun because I had the pleasure of making it with one of my long time friends, Jordan Everett. When Jordan showed me his initial production ideas for the song, I knew I had to be on it. Immediately, the music drawed me in with its super upbeat, perfect-for-a-summer-day vibes. We started writing after we spoke about the issues in my relationship that I was facing at the time and it made the songwriting process so deep knowing that I was able to write so vulnerably with one of my closest friends and collaborators who truly understood what I was going through. The heavy songwriting definitely contrasts the easy listen instrumental creating a breakup anthem that shines light on both newfound independence and the grief of losing love.
Q: If you could collaborate with any musician, dead or alive, who would it be?
ELEANOR: I would love to collaborate with Halsey, she is definitely one of the main reasons I started making music and I’m such a fan of her storytelling, voice, and just overall authenticity.
Q: The song is so fun to listen to; I bet creating the track was even better! What was your favorite part of making “Losing Focus”?
ELEANOR: My favorite part was the fact that I got to make the song with Jordan since we have been friends for years and have always supported each other’s careers. We’ve watched each other grow from artists with a couple of songs out to distinguished musicians with fans and large catalogs. Building together and watching each other grow bonded our friendship for life and getting to make a song together that we both really loved was super exciting. We’ve learned so much over the years and have become much better artists than where we started and I think that really shines through in this record.
Q: “Losing Focus” is a really cool genre-fusing track, with elements of rock, indie pop, alternative, etc. In your own words, how would you describe the music that you typically create?
ELEANOR: I guess I just really hate being defined to a genre. I think that’s why I tend to incorporate a lot of different styles into one song. I just love being fluid and getting to release a hyperpop song one month, an indie rock record the next, and an easy-going pop track to follow them up. Different emotions deserve different styles and inspiration and I’m definitely not someone who ever wants to be defined as one thing. I can be edgy, terrified, depressed, confident, worried, optimistic, kind, and vengeful: my music, lyrically and sonically, does the same.
Q: Was there a pivotal moment in your life when you decided to pursue your passion fully?
ELEANOR: I have always been taught to believe in higher education so I went to a college preparatory boarding school with a 100% matriculation rate and had an older brother who graduated from the same school and went on to Stanford. I left my family at 14 and went to such a rigorous high school because I thought I had to, to secure the best future possible. I’m grateful for such a good education but honestly going to that school made me depressed, anxious, overwhelmed, and suicidal. I lost myself there. When senior year came around, I felt depleted and exhausted in college counseling sessions. The only thing that saved me during that time was music providing me a space to cope and find who I was again. I realized I had a choice: go to college, repeat the process of “feeling like I have to do something to secure the best future possible” and, with my track record, probably end up dead. Or, I could turn my life around, tell myself I didn’t care what anybody thinks and go for the future that I truly WANT and not the one that I felt forced to have. It’s been a tough journey with a lot of ups and downs but I am 100% certain that I made the right choice.
Q: What has been one of the highlights of your music career so far?
ELEANOR: I was recently added to Spotify’s, “Indie Pop” & “All New Indie” editorial playlists which honestly has been one of the coolest things to happen in my life. It means a lot to have a platform like Spotify that I love so much, respect and shine a light on my music. Getting put in the “Indie” category was also super sick too since, you know, I definitely don’t want to be defined as pop haha.
Q: It was a pleasure talking with you today! Tell everyone what exciting things are coming up next for you!
ELEANOR: Thank you so much for having me! I’m so excited for 2023. I will be releasing a new song every month moving forward, I already know of 2 more live shows in LA that I’m playing this spring and there will definitely be more, I’ll also be dropping a lot more collaborations with artists that I love. Thank you for rocking with me and keeping up with my music!
Interviewed by Melissa Cusano
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