The keen reader will gladly remember Elina Filice from a feature we published earlier this year, celebrating her comeback single ‘These Days’ as “a nugget of honesty and authenticity packed with heightened introspection and real-life experience.” We stand by our statement, and in fact, the same concept could be applied to Filice’s wider catalogue, as her songwriting is often observant and evocative, certainly relatable. ‘Bury Me’ is the perfect evidence of that.
Marking Filice’s latest effort, the song doubles down on epic melodies and uplifting guitar-coded matter, striking a working compromise between gritty punk-rock and pop-leaning elegance. It’s a formula that works well in relation to Elina’s often romantic and emotional songwriting, as she dissects the cathartic aftermath of a past relationship. Working out of Toronto’s creative energy, Filice looks to be back on the scene permanently, and she’s got a lot to say.
Intrigued by the new single, we caught up with the Canadian artist to learn more about her latest single and any upcoming plans… Interview below!
Hey Elina, thanks for chatting with us! It’s great to see you back in full force after a two-year hiatus. How does it feel to release music again? There’s something quite empowering and perhaps intoxicating in sharing one’s art with the world…
Great to chat with you and thanks for supporting my music over the years! It feels great to be releasing again, and I do love sharing my art with the world. As rewarding as it is, it’s also a long and complex process to get here! From the writing, recording and producing, to the art and visual aspects, to the promotion, marketing, release, and everything in between, releasing music is no easy task, especially as an independent artist!
Were you busy doing anything in particular during your absence? I guess you have never stopped writing, as ‘Bury Me’ clearly showcases!
So busy! I was writing a lot, as well as recording & producing new music. I was promoting Drop Rocket (project management software for independent artists) and working with a ton of amazing independent artists on their release strategies. I played some great shows (in Singapore, Nashville, Hamilton, Toronto, and beyond) and did a lot of travelling (as far east as Japan and as far south as Patagonia). Releasing music takes a ton of time, effort, and funds, so I never fault artists for taking a break when they need to!
That’s the cue: ‘Bury Me’ is your latest single, a slice of wholesome and brooding punk-pop goodness steeped in personal experience and nostalgic introspection. Is the song inspired by a particular event or period in your life?
Yes! The song is about an old ratty Molson Canadian t-shirt stolen from me by a past love. It became a running joke between us who’s shirt it was, and that I was never getting it back. One night she said, “You know, if I die tonight, they’ll have to bury me in this shirt, and then you’re never gonna get it back.” It starts as a song about a shirt, and then becomes a song about the seemingly ordinary artefacts that narrate our lives, the love you never want to take back.
A big part of your artistic identity relates to a strong sense of belonging to the Queer community. Given that it’s now Pride Month, I’d love to know more about “music as a powerful tool for the queer community”, as declared in the single’s press release. Would you say that your music resonates with the community?
My music is deeply personal, but I feel it’s also about universal and quintessentially queer experiences. I cherish the messages I get from queer folks from all over the world about how they’ve connected to my music. Part of my mission is queer visibility through music and normalising our unique experiences.
I see music as a powerful tool for queer storytelling. Our stories matter, and music is a powerful tool to convey, humanise, and build acceptance around our unique experiences.
I also hope that my music can help queer people everywhere, particularly those who aren’t ‘out’ or are living in places where we’re not accepted, feel a little less alone. Even if you can’t access queerness or community in real life, queer music and media are accessible to anyone with internet access, so my music is a love letter to them, too.
From a songwriting standpoint, how does your creative process work? Do you always write from a personal standpoint? Perhaps with a guitar?
My creative/ songwriting process usually begins with some kind of hook, a line or melody that becomes the heart and emotional driver of the song. My main instrument is guitar, so that’s the next step: I sit down and flesh out the chorus and chord progressions. Then I use the verses to expand the storytelling/world-building aspects of the song.
From what I understand, Toronto is quite a vibrant and culturally-rich city. How’s the local music scene right now?
The local music scene here is incredible! There’s a ton of great independent music in every genre. There are so many fantastic venues that support the music. And there’s definitely a demand for independent music as well! I’m blessed (albeit a little intimidated!) to get to explore this scene.
Lastly, what does the future hold for Elina Filice? Any live shows on the horizon?
I was hoping for rest (after being busy with shows and releases the last few months), but that may not be the case! I just put on a big single launch/ pride kickoff show for “Bury Me,” but Toronto folks should definitely follow me to hear about future shows. Lots more shows, music, collabs and videos are in the works!