Artist Spotlights: The Wonderful World of Elizabeth
The Melbourne-based pop auteur reinvents heartbreak on her 2019 album the wonderful world of nature.
Artist Spotlights introduces you to artists that may not be on your radar yet, but should be. With recently cancelled tours and income loss for small artists, there’s no time like the present to find new talent to support.
Written by C.S. Harper
Photo courtesy of triple j Unearthed
Recommended If You Like: Lana Del Rey, Mitski, Angel Olsen
Following her band Totally Mild’s breakup, Elizabeth Mitchell released her solo debut, the wonderful world of nature, in late 2019. Proclaimed as a “breakup classic,” the record divulges her experiences as a self-described “patron saint of sad girls.” The album received positive acclaim from critics and garnered over a million streams on Spotify.
The wonderful world of nature owes its success to Elizabeth’s candidness. The record captures the twists and turns of her heartbroken psyche as she tries to consolidate her longing, indifference, and remorse toward her ex-wife. Rather than portraying herself as the victim of her divorce, she chose to reflect on the breakup process and “whether you’re the monster or the other person is the monster — and why you’re so monstrous together.” As a result, Elizabeth delivers a rare breakup album that acknowledges both sides of the conflict. The standout track “death toll” chronicles the broken relationship and how both women contributed to its end.
Drawing inspiration from Lana Del Rey, the singer sought to create a lush sound that accompanied her personal lyrics. The result is a record that sounds familiar but fresh, featuring dream pop songs with vintage flair. Elizabeth’s operatic voice weaves gracefully through each track, and her vocal versatility allows her to carry piano ballads as well as breakup party anthems.
Photo courtesy of Georgia Wallace
Like its sound, the aesthetic of the wonderful world of nature reflects Elizabeth’s meticulous creative vision. Combining pastel palettes, nature-inspired props, and vintage wardrobes, her music videos look like “Midsommar” set in the 1960s. Similarly, the album’s PR shoots and packaging offer visuals that help the listener submerge themselves in the idiosyncratic world that Elizabeth creates.
In 2020, Elizabeth’s music has continued to flourish. This January, she released a remix of “parties” by producer Alice Ivy, which brings a club banger twist to the track. She was featured in the Isol-Aid Festival, an online music festival dedicated to helping artists during the coronavirus pandemic. More recently, she also played an at-home concert for TicketMaster Australia and a live session for Baked.
Elizabeth is on the path to sad pop stardom. Her evocative sound and lyrics make her a perfect addition to any sad girl’s quarantine playlist. As the year progresses, here’s hoping that Elizabeth blesses the world with more perfectly crafted quaran-tunes.