I am proud of how I have pulled myself out of some dark times
Deep down inside her soul, it's always been music for Eloise Viola. The harsh realities of a creative career stared her square in the face, as they're prone to do, but the allure of singing triumphs every time. Singing always came naturally to her, and studying the art of songwriting a tad later. A love of internationally acclaimed performer Adele made anything seem possible.
At the start, Eloise yearned to write the big, heartbroken ballads, the dark of night soundtracks to tear-soaked pillows and whispered confessions. When she was 17, Adele’s 21 record went stratospheric. It was a constant companion pushing her to teach herself how to play the piano. "This was a turning point, not just for my songwriting, but how my life and career began. Playing the piano meant I was starting to understand music."
A meeting with a producer and writing team steered Eloise to embrace pop music's infectious rhythms and relatable lyrics. It was a bitter pill to swallow then, but now she looks back with gratitude. "There’s space for both sadness and joy, but I love singing empowering songs that lift people rather than make them feel disheartened."
She realised she was desperate to share the wisdom gained from her quest for self-love. There was a lightning strike: she could express it quite effortlessly through her songs. "When I perform upbeat songs, the energy I feel in the room is why I do what I do."
Supporting US rocker Anastasia on tour was a defining moment for Eloise. Anastasia fans are loyal, in it for the long game; they'd patiently waited a long time to see their hero. The surge of electricity from the fans fed into Eloise's sets. "I felt so supported by audiences on this tour. It meant I could experiment to a certain extent on stage, and I left feeling confident in my performance and message."
It may not be rebellious rock and roll, but Eloise is a bit of a preparer. Organising brings her comfort. That said, she's more relaxed now with riding unpredictability, during performances in particular. She can do all the preparation in the world, but the experience of being in the moment and getting out and doing it refines how each show looks.
Despite Eloise's pride in her independence, she recognises the barriers in her career. The music industry, a realm of relentless competition, demands resilience. "With TikTok and cheap production software, literally anyone can write, produce, and promote their music. So the barrier to entry is much lower." It's the next step that's perplexing. "Breaking through has been hard but rewarding. My development is down to work, consistency, and tenacity."
As an independent artist, there's a lot of door knocking, praying some of them open. "Overall, it feels like the progress you can make is in the hands of the gatekeepers. Unlike my friends in other industries, I have no idea what I'll be doing in the next six months, a year, or five years and having that uncertainty feels stressful! However, what I can control is me and my output."
She finds solace in focusing on what she can control: her music and her work ethic. By pouring her heart and soul into things and exploring avenues to promote her message, Eloise is doing all she can. The path to success is unpredictable, but she'll leave no stone unturned in her pursuit of making music.
"I don’t know what the future holds, but I would love to stay independent. Potentially it's an achievable goal, with how things are moving in the industry, but we know it's far from perfect." Eloise's belief in the power of collective action shows in her advocacy for fair pay for songwriters.
"Everyone has to be on board with fair pay, not just a few shouting about it. We don’t have all the information and only know what's in the public domain. But, it's positive when major record labels take a stand against companies such as TikTok about it. Unless we all make noise, nothing will change."
Eloise's debut album, The Glasshouse, released on 10 May, is deeply personal and universally relatable. "It’s about love, heartbreak, self-love, body image, confidence and being single. It covers topics we all talk of but don’t always hear in songs." It's brimming with the charm of 80s synths with poppy dance production. "Currently, I'm describing my sound as if Griff, Becky Hill and Holly Humberstone had a baby!"
"The beauty of music is people hear what they need to hear in that moment." The Glasshouse tells the story of her vulnerabilities and pulling herself out of her lowest points. "Listeners hear the struggles of being down and know they can, and will, get through whatever they are going through." Eloise's life lessons remind her fans that even in their darkest moments, they have the power to find strength and emerge from tough periods with renewed purpose.
Her pride in her first record is easy to see, although certain aspects posed a challenge to portray accurately. Striking a balance in self-love writing to avoid sounding cliché was to be delicate. The narrative had to be genuine and resonate with Eloise's struggles in mental health and her following a creative profession while resonating with listeners.
"We live in a world which feels mostly contrived and disingenuous. I hope the openness in my lyrics helps shed light on what life is truly like. I'm massively proud of these songs and, more importantly, how I have pulled myself out of some dark times." Eloise Viola offers The Glasshouse to soundtrack the self-empowerment of whoever needs it.
