Elias Jay Bryce’s new single ‘Highs And Lows’ is a beautiful, otherworldly track that feels like the artist has connected to something deeply primal and eternal. Rooted in an emotional honesty shaped by personal upheaval, the Vienna-based artist constructs a piece that invites stillness, reflection, and release.
Drawing inspiration from bands like White Lies, Elias trades in their indie-folk roots for something more synth-laced and immersive, leaning into a glimmering, ambient pop palette that feels almost spiritual.
Bryce’s voice sits in harmony with the production, matching the melody of the instrumentation rather than cutting through and contrasting it. It’s a clever move, giving the track a cohesive, dreamlike quality. “Writing the lyrics was the most pleasant part,” the artist shares. “Just sitting with a cup of coffee in front of a lake is quite soothing.” And that serenity bleeds through every note.
But this peace was hard-won. The track traces Elias’s journey through adolescent emotional volatility, a time described as being marked by rapid mood swings and social disconnection. “I could go from depressive thoughts to hypomania and back within 15 minutes,” they reflect. “Later I received a wrong diagnosis of bipolar disorder, which despite it being false still helped me to distance myself from my feelings and not judge myself too harshly.” That insight, therapy, and creative expression forms the track’s emotional spine. By its end, ‘Highs And Lows’ glows with quiet hope, never overstated, but always present.
The single was brought to life with support from a small but vital team. Zhen Shen, who handled mastering duties, while animator Dedho created a beautifully minimal visual companion. The sketch-style music video captures a dreamlike journey across land and sea, culminating in the image of a woman emerging from water on a lily, mirroring the song’s theme of rebirth. The artwork, designed by Elias’s longtime friend Lacrimairrisor, adds another personal layer as each element of the project is interlinked and considered.
There’s a certain rough magic in the story of how ‘Highs And Lows’ came to be. Elias openly describes the early stages of production as frustrating, but eventually stumbled onto a synth sound that changed everything. It’s that humility and self-awareness that lends the song its grounded charm.
‘Highs And Lows’ is ultimately a song about survival, but in the quiet, persistent way we carry ourselves through the confusion of life. As Elias says of the track, “It ends on a positive note, conveying that any person has strength to overcome any obstacle in their path.”
