New Music Now Series: Elise Hayes – ‘Giving Up’

Combining a heavy pop-synth bass line and Nashville infused voice, Elise Hayes’s “Giving Up” jumps through stereo speakers with striking production and sound. At first, warm acoustic guitar strings and sweet background singing maintain a somewhat classic grounding as Hayes, whose songs have been featured on several television shows, including ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” Freeform’s “The Bold Type” and “Siesta Key,” from MTV, delivers lyrics about an ended relationship and feelings that listeners can grab onto.

At 1:03 “Giving Up” breaks into a steadier beat and a fuller space. The 3:06 cut has a lush R&B edge and emits a personal singer-songwriting style when Hayes cautions, “You don’t get to hold me like you used to, you don’t get to call me.” “Giving Up” is about words and ideas wrapped in an interesting sound. That is no musical coincidence. Hayes has written songs for well-known artists, including Lucie Silvas (“E.G.O”) and Jill Andrews (“Rust or Gold.”) Additionally, the Nashville-based musician toured as a background singer and keyboardist for country’s Carly Pearce, while opening national tours for Blake Shelton, Thomas Rhett, Luke Bryan and others.

Though the title is a bit deceptive, “Giving Up” ultimately carries a positive message of survival. Notice how the official title has the words crossed out with a pen. Available now, “Giving Up” follows Nov. 2018’s popular single “Float,” which Hayes describes as an “honest journey back to herself.”