Christine Elise’s latest single, “OK,” offers a deeply reflective yet hopeful message, exploring the internal battle many face during challenging times. The track centers on finding inner peace and resilience, with Christine Elise’s signature vocals set against Doug Hammer’s emotive piano arrangements. Inspired by sleepless nights and the process of self-discovery, “OK” speaks to the power of optimism and faith in overcoming life’s darkest moments. Through its heartfelt lyrics and soothing atmosphere, Christine Elise invites listeners to embrace their struggles and trust that things will eventually be “OK.”
Can you describe the concept behind “OK”? What does the title represent in the context of the song?
This song is about finding peace despite external struggle and maintaining hope for better things to come. “OK” illustrates the emotional journey that many people go through when dealing with difficult times, but also demonstrates how optimism and faith in one’s own resilience can empower them. Everyone needs to hear that things are going to be “OK,” but to know it in your own heart for yourself is most influential. I guess I am trying to help remind people of that. When we are dealing with a difficult situation, we can ruminate on negative thoughts, and the hope is that the lyrics in this song provide both empathic understanding along affirming things in a more positive light. I purposely set the “plot” of this song as someone who is up at night and having trouble sleeping, as that can be a typical scenario when someone is feeling anxious or depressed, and that also tends to be when they are feeling most vulnerable.
How does “OK” reflect your own experiences of overcoming challenges? Are there specific moments in your life that inspired this song?
Just like anyone else, I’ve had my struggles, and I’ve had my sleepless nights worrying or trying to figure things out, etc. At some point, I started to become aware that instead of being my own worst enemy, I could actually become my own personal advocate and look at things from a bigger perspective. This of course is sometimes easier said than done, but it has helped prevent me from feeling overwhelmed on several occasions. Having the confidence of knowing that you can get through any difficult situation can make all the difference.
The story behind how this song came to be is not how many people might think it would be, however. I didn’t sit down one day and decide, “I’m going to write a song about being ok because I went through xyz” or whatever… I was actually just heading out for a walk one spring day, and as I opened the door to go outside, the melody sort of just “flew” into me. I was instantly taken by the melody that came to me, and as I walked on, I naturally began to put lyrics to it, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I honestly can’t help but wonder if the universe was sending me this song to release into the world because the message is so needed right now. I really hope it touches others and brings them some much needed peace.
What specific elements did you incorporate to enhance the song’s emotional impact?
I chose to put the sound of crickets at the beginning of the track to set the tone of calmness and an evening atmosphere. I also knew right away that I wanted a bright and intense string solo to break away from the heaviness of the bridge. I tend to call this song my “Disney” song because there is something about that solo that feels so epic and moving… There is one spot that nearly brings me to tears every time because it’s just so beautiful to me. My producer, Doug Hammer, of Dreamworld Productions, did an amazing job of orchestrating that and of course the rest of the song as well. It’s so satisfying when something you have in your head comes to fruition!
How has your approach to songwriting and music changed since your earlier releases? What have you learned that influenced “OK”?
I write songs in a number of ways. Sometimes there’s a more practical approach (like in my song, “Time” on my first album – I set out to write a song for engagements and weddings), but my favorite way is when they seem to evolve out of me organically, such as this one. More often than not, that’s how I “write” these days, or at least that’s how many of them start, and that’s more common now than when I wrote my first songs.
In terms of what I learned, I guess I just learned to tap into that organic space more and more over time. It wasn’t so much a conscious effort, but rather something I’ve become increasingly more drawn to.
What can you share about the themes and concepts explored in your upcoming album Something Great? How does “OK” fit into that narrative?
On my physical CD cover, I include a quote from Rumi that says, “Love is the whole thing. We are only pieces.” I guess you could say that each of my songs is some of those pieces, and those pieces explore universal love, self-love, romantic love, and more. I also personally explain that the songs in this album “come from the depths of my heart and simultaneously from the magic of life that surrounds all of us every day.” In other words, they’re deep and meaningful but also include a spiritual element of universal expansiveness; hence the cover art shows me enmeshed amidst the galaxy. “OK” fits in with all of that in terms of both self-love (showing yourself compassion and having faith in yourself) and universal love (having faith in the bigger picture of life).
Can you walk us through a typical day in your life when you’re writing a song? Do you have any specific rituals or places that inspire you?
Like I mentioned, there are many different ways I write. Songs are always going through my head for the most part – I pretty much make up songs all day long about everything! Sometimes I sit down at the piano and play around and something comes to me, or I might have something in mind before I sit; something I might want to “vent” out over the keys… The more meditative places though are where most of my songs come from these days, such as soaking in my bathtub (probably my #1 place for working on songs honestly!) or driving in my car for a long trip on the highway. I know there are a gazillion songs out there waiting for me, and I am always excited to meet which one is next.
Are there any musicians or artists who have significantly influenced your work?
I actually love many genres and therefore I admire many artists for many different reasons. I’ve learned a lot from so many. It’s hard to narrow them down, but I can certainly say that the earliest singer I was most influenced and inspired by was the magnificent Whitney Houston. I don’t think anyone can say that she didn’t touch them at least on some level. I always say that she was my first “teacher” because her album was the first I ever bought, and I sang all those songs over and over again for who knows how many hours. I loved how she could put so much emotion into a song and make it a full out of body experience just by listening to her.
As you move forward with your music career, what are you most excited about in the next chapter of your journey?
There is just so much more that I want to do and look forward to! I suppose one of the things I most look forward to right now is getting out and performing more and spending more time with my fans and other musicians. Those connections are so fulfilling to me on so many levels. There are many more projects getting started behind the scenes, so keep an eye out!