ARTIST ID: Jean Elliot

Some of the most prominent figures of Australian Gothic: Picnic at Hanging Rock, The Secret River and Jean Elliot. Drawing inspiration from Sharon Van Etten and Ethel Cain, Jean Elliot captivates audiences and transports them into the eerie landscape of rural Australia. The Sydney-based musician plays with haunting, natural imagery and blends genres to push musical boundaries.

The debut EP, Butcher, Lover, Runner, is a haunting 26-minute escapist narrative. The first track, “Hole In Her Head”, finds beauty in simplicity, with the minimal instrumental allowing Elliot’s storytelling and soft vocals to shine through. This approach is further reflected in tunes such as “Devil’s Wilderness Theme”, where a clear, refined understanding of the southern-gothic, dark aesthetic and physical surroundings come together to form a piece built to be listened to in a run-down tin-roofed shed.

“Lennon” and “Wiretrap” provide a more evidently alternative-rock-influenced side of Elliot’s growing discography. The rich and strong vocals, accompanied by beautifully toned electric guitar, build up into cinematic climaxes belonging in the climax of a dark, disturbing film.

Following the release of Butcher, Lover, Runner, Jean Elliot has revealed the EP’s moodboard in the format of a curated 14-song journey. This playlist not only houses the six tracks that make up the debut record, but, in its formatting, each original piece is followed by another artist’s work that inspires Elliot.

The standout lyrical mastery of Jean Elliot’s work is undoubtedly a reflection of her musical inspirations. “Hole In Her Head” is immaculately followed by Sun Kil Moon’s “Carry Me Ohio”- lyrics of haunting despair accompanied by acoustic guitar being shared between the two. Explaining her choice of song here, Jean reflects this relation in artistry by stating, “Sun Kil Moon captures a bittersweet sadness that I feel my music is always tinged with”.

Jean Elliot is not only a listener and composer, but the way she treats her work is almost in resemblance to a sculptor creating their final masterpiece. The significance of layering in her music is not too different from the weight of physical texture in a statue to create life. In conversation with Sugar Spun, the singer touched on her approach texturally in her music.

“Texture in music is my favourite thing of all time, and I think the resurgence of country music textures in alternative music has given it a lot of heart”

“Beneath Your Sun” and “Devil’s Wilderness Theme” perfectly encapsulate this approach of merging country styles with alternative techniques.

When listening to Elliot, the sound waves entering your ear always seem secondary to the story of each work. The haunting lyrics of death in “Hole In Her Head” intrigue even the most casual of listeners. Questions are raised about who she is. Jean Elliot is more than a name, but a character in a macabre, never-ending story that will continue through more musical releases. Jean’s intricate narrative has clearly just begun, or so she tells us.

“Butcher, Lover, Runner was the prologue to a deeper story. You’ll just have to see what happens next… "

This characterisation within conceptual albums is not unknown in the Alt-Folk world, as American Artist Ethel Cain has also built a universe within her albums surrounding her character of the same stage name. Cain’s “Nettles” is, of course, featured in Elliot’s inspiration playlist, as she describes the alternative singer as creating “eternal art”.

Hole In Her Head - Jean Elliot

Carry Me Ohio - Sun Kil Moon

Wiretrap - Jean Elliot

Wristwatch - MJ Letterman

Nettles - Ethel Cain

Positive Graffiti - Shayna

Beneath Your Sun - Jean Elliot

The Last Time - Milly Strange

Devil’s Wilderness Theme - Jean Elliot

West Country Girl - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

Lennon - Jean Elliot

Elderberry Wine - Wednesday

Unlucky (Everyone But Me) - Share

Highwayman - Jean Elliot

Listen to the exclusive playlist here on Spotify

Jean Elliot’s story has hardly begun, and it is nothing short of an honour to be able to listen to her ever-growing discography. Next time you find yourself on a rural road trip, it is obvious that the EP, Butcher, Lover, Runner, is the perfect score to blast.