Elizabeth Morris on finding a way to do what you love

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             Last year indie-pop powerhouse Allo Darlin' announced the breakup of their band and would play their very last show in London that December. But for lead singer Elizabeth Morris this was but another chapter in an ongoing musical-life, conjoined elements that are hard to pry apart, since, as Elizabeth says, playing and writing music has informed every aspect of her life since she was a child. Coming of age in the 90's, when female singer-songwriters were on our air waves and our televisions in full force, for those who weren't there it can be hard to appreciate the ground breaking significance of that time, but for Morris it became the thing that gave voice to a life's calling, the empowered muses of song and expression that ignited an inextinguishable creative passion in her. "I think if you want to do it," says Elizabeth, "you will find a way." A great musical project's closing leads to other open doors, a new band, Elva, in her new home of Norway, with her husband Ola Innset, Jørgen Nordby and Diego Ivars is in the works. "At this stage," Elizabeth says, "it's lovely just enjoying playing music again and learning to play with new people. We're really relaxed and have these lovely rehearsals in our basement," proving that every closing chapter is but another one beginning. 

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AHC: What has this journey in music, so far, been like for you, the highs and the lows, and what life lessons do you feel you've picked up along the way?

Elizabeth: It's hard to distinguish between my "journey in music" and my life. Playing and writing music has informed every aspect of my life since I was a child. It has given my greatest friends and my husband. It's brought me to the other side of the world and allowed me to travel places I otherwise wouldn't have. I'm looking forward to where it will take us next.

AHC: What first drew you to music and what was your early musical environment like growing up? Were there pivotal songs for you then that just floored you the moment you heard them?

Elizabeth: I grew up in a household with lots of music. I thought everybody did! Music was always playing in our house. My dad loves to sing and my mum plays piano, so they would play together. Apart from that, the stereo was always on in the kitchen and the car. I remember discovering the balance knob on our kitchen stereo and realising I could isolate the different voices of Simon and Garfunkel - that's how I started learning to harmonise. I think I loved almost everything I heard and was always singing as a kid.

AHC: Do you remember the first song that you ever wrote or played? Or that first moment when you picked up a pen and realized that you could create whole worlds just by putting it to paper? 

Elizabeth: I was about 14 when I wrote a song for the first time, which would have been in the mid 90s. I had been learning to play guitar for a little while, and listened a lot to women songwriters who were popular at that time. I loved Alanis Morrisette and the Indigo Girls and the Cranberries. So my first song was very angsty and terrible! It took a long time for me to write another one, I don't think I tried again until I was 21 or 22. But I do think those 90s women songwriters, along with an early love for Joni Mitchell, kickstarted something for me. I'm glad I grew up at that time.
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AHC: Which musicians have you learned the most from? Or writers, artists, filmmakers, teachers/mentors etc? 

Elizabeth: I think I've a lot from people I've played with - Paul, Bill and Mike in AD, and now Ola, Diego and Jørgen in Elva. I've got great advice over the years from Darren Hayman, I've learned a lot about songwriting from David Tattersall. Those are just the people I know though. I think you learn a lot from listening to records and sometimes deconstructing them - I think that's where I've learned the most. It's fun to talk to fellow musicians and friends about music. I've learned so much this way.
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AHC: What do you think makes for a good song, as you're writing and composing, is there a sudden moment when you know you've found the right mix, that perfect angle of light, so to speak? 

Elizabeth: I think you always know when you have something good, but that's just a matter of liking it yourself. I find I'm not the best judge myself of which songs other people are going to like. The most recent song I wrote for my new band Elva I thought was just ok; the others think it's really great. I am just always pleased if I can get a song to hang together nicely; to have a melody I like to sing and words which mean something to me.

AHC: What are your fondest musical memories? In your house? In your neighborhood or town? On-tour, on-the-road?

Elizabeth: I guess I would have to say from being on the road and onstage. Sometimes it's all a blur; sometimes I can recall individual moments. I hope I never forget, but it's so hard to hold onto your memories.

AHC: When you set out to write a song, how much does 'where the world is' in its current moment, culturally, politically, otherwise, influence the kinds of stories you set out to tell?

Elizabeth: Quite a lot, although writing overtly political songs is really hard. I actually am not so interested in bands these days that don't make some kind of statement politically. I don't really care if their music is political or not, but they have to have the right politics. At this point, if you're not engaged with what's going on, why should I think that you have something worthwhile saying? 
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AHC: Do you have any words of advice or encouragement for other musicians and singer-songwriters out there who are just starting out and trying to find their voice and their way in this world? What are the kinds of things that you tell yourself when you begin to have doubts or are struggling with the creative process? Or what kinds of things have others told you that have helped push you past moments of self doubt/creative blocks?

ELizabeth: I think if you want to do it, you will find a way. Try not to take yourself so seriously, try to write as many songs as possible and don't get hung up on one particular one. Sometimes having many different songs on the go is a good trick. If you're finding it hard to write words, just try writing a day book for a while to get you into the habit of writing. Start thinking of yourself as a writer and seeing the world from that perspective. Everybody has songs that are less good than others, and it takes a while for most people to hit their stride with it. Even Dylan started out by copying, that's a good place to start.

AHC:  Do you have any new projects moving forward or ideas that are percolating for the future?  

Elizabeth: I have a new band called Elva, based in Norway where I live now. It's a really nice project with my husband Ola Innset, and our friends Jørgen Nordby and Diego Ivars. Ola and I both write songs. I think it's a bit more folky sounding than Allo Darlin' or Ola's previous bands My Little Pony and Making Marks, but we are still finding our way. We're heading to England to record with Mike from Allo Darlin' at his studio in Ramsgate in a little while, and will have a single out at the end of the year on WIAIWYA. At this stage it's lovely just enjoying playing music again and learning to play with new people. We're really relaxed and have these lovely rehearsals in our basement where we've set up a rehearsal studio. We don't have anything out you can listen to yet, but you can follow us on instagram here https://www.instagram.com/elva_band/.


​Elizabeths two solo EP's Optimism and Athens are both available via elizabethmorris.bandcamp.com/
Allo Darlin' catalog available via allodarlin.bandcamp.com/