Copenhagen’s own Elliot is back, and he’s leaning into the beautiful, messy reality of being young and misunderstood. His latest single, “hot but depressive,” dropped January 23—and it’s a masterclass in “dreamy indie-pop with an edge.”
The Vibe: Raw, Velvety, and Brutally Honest
If his previous EP affogato was a gritty take on bittersweet emotions, “hot but depressive” is the moment the lights come up at 3:00 AM. Dusty, Americana-inspired guitar riffs, reminiscent of a lonely highway, open the track, gradually building into a lush, cathartic chorus.
Working alongside producer Joachim Ersgaard (known for his work with Mina Okabe), Elliot pairs his signature velvety vocals with a melody that sticks in your head long after the track ends.
Why It Hits Home
The song isn’t just a catchy title; it’s a deep dive into the fear of intimacy. Elliot explains the “self-sabotage” at the heart of the lyrics:
“It comes from distancing yourself from love before it gets too close. You don’t want to hurt others with your own emotional complexity, so you show your destructive side instead of the beauty inside. It’s about the fear of loneliness—and the habit of destroying something good before it can become superficial.”
A Rising Star in the Nordic Scene
Elliot has been on the radar since he was 17, and the momentum isn’t slowing down. Following a standout performance at SPOT Festival 2025 (which caught the eye of CLASH Magazine) and support slots for indie heavyweights like Brimheim, he’s proving to be one of Denmark’s most authentic voices.
“hot but depressive” serves as the second glimpse into his upcoming EP, following the success of his recent collaboration with Reveal Party, “nothing at all.”
https://open.spotify.com/track/4kRAn2ZrWPzN0bQiLmtLUq?si=fe4ff632ab3c4f2f