Elton John says he “would’ve killed myself” making another solo album
As Elton John and Brandi Carlile’s collaborative record, Who Believes In Angels?, is released, the iconic musician shared why doing a project with another person was so comforting and why he believes he couldn’t have done it alone.
In 2023, after his performance at Glastonbury Festival, John concluded his touring commitments. He wrapped up his Covid-delayed final tour, but despite being finished with hitting the road, he remains far from retired.
Since then, John has been busy and making the most of his newfound free time. He and Carlile have been planning on collaborating for a long time now, even beginning the process of making Who Believes In Angels? back in 2023, working slowly with an all-star cast of musicians there to help John.
John himself has admitted to needing the help. He said the album was “one of the toughest I’ve made” due to his worsening health throughout the process as an eye infection impacted his vision amongst other issues. In a recent conversation with The Sun, he also shared that the album was a necessary change of pace mentally as well as accounting for his physical capabilities.
“If I had just made another Elton John record, I would’ve killed myself,” he said, explaining, “I knew that I didn’t want to make the same album again… I wanted the album to move forward because I’m always trying to look forward.”
Carlile was a vital part of that, as he claims he wouldn’t and couldn’t have done an album without her. “I needed her, I needed her talent, her energy, her humour, and her brilliant lyrics. I’ve got two of the greatest lyric writers in the world: Bernie Taupin and Brandi Carlile,” he said, ranking her alongside his long-term collaborator.
In a review, Far Out wrote of John and Carlile’s new album: “Equipped with a swirling concoction of varying degrees of greatness—including Watt’s unmatched production, John’s unrelenting voice, and back-and-forth lyrical collaborations between Carlile and Bernie Tapin—Who Believes In Angels should have demonstrated the very best of seasoned energy and efficiency, and while this is true in obvious ways, some moments feel a little directionless or unintentionally flat.”
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