Elly Jackson has released Old Flames, her fourth album as La Roux, six years after Supervision. She describes a writing and arrangement process developed over several years, with melodic ideas given separate space within songs. The album draws on the end of a long relationship and follows her appearances on Hilary Duff’s tour.
Musician Elly Jackson has released Old Flames, her fourth studio album under the name La Roux. The release comes six years after Supervision and draws on the end of a long relationship.[1], [2]
Jackson began experimenting in 2020 without a fixed album in mind, after Supervision’s tour was cancelled during the pandemic.[1]
Jackson says she handled the album’s writing, production, composition and arrangements herself. She selected ideas developed over four or five years, taking breaks between periods of work before listening again. On Night Vision, she concentrated on letting one melodic hook give way to the next. Her reference points included SWV’s Right Here, All Saints and Mariah Carey’s Heartbreaker. She says editing and arrangement take time and that she does not read music.[1]
The album also addresses addiction, sexuality and identity. Jackson describes balancing honesty in songwriting with ambiguity about personal details; different verses can draw on separate episodes of her life. Donnie Darko and Twin Peaks helped shape the visual world. The release follows appearances on Hilary Duff’s tour, where Jackson says she could introduce other songs to listeners familiar with her biggest hits.[1]
