Track Review: Elise // Cowboy
Hailing from Kilkenny, Ireland, we have singer-songwriter, Elise. Born of two musical families, music definitely runs in the family and Elise is a natural talent. A multi-instrumentalist, Elise is classically trained in the violin (only up to her teens, but it still counts) and a self-taught guitarist. The latest addition to her discography is the single ‘Cowboy’.
Beginning 2020 as a headline act at Whelan’s Ones To Watch Festival, followed by performances at The Underground and The Workmans Club, Elise was set to have a sensational year. Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, gigs took a backseat for her and band members Thomas Donoghue (guitar), Fionn Lynch (bass) and Benedict Warner-Clayton (drums). Thing is, instead of sitting on her laurels and sulking about the situation, Elise took the time to record and release new material.
Recorded at Sun Studios and mastered by award-winning engineer Joe LaPorta (Shawn Mendes and David Bowie) just before the pandemic hit, ‘Cowboy’ is an insatiable swirl of folk-pop. Written as a tribute to childhood memories and a person’s life journey, the track has a dreamy ambience reflecting not only nostalgia but emotions of regret, disappointment and acceptance. Quite a stripped-back song, the guitar-driven melody melds effortlessly with Elise’s simple vocals enhancing sincerity, genuineness and beautiful honesty.