As severe storms struck Chicago on Sunday night, Ella Williams was coming home from a music-video shoot. Walking to her apartment, she felt a strange yet familiar sensation.
“There was a time where every little headache I got would spark anxiety and depression,” she says. “After I would get one, I would think, ‘Yeah, my life is over. I have brain damage.’ I don’t have brain damage. I’m fine, but I was overcoming the fear of my body not working.”
Squirrel Flower, Mia Joy Sat 6/26, 4:30 PM, Sleeping Village, 3734 W. Belmont, sold out, 21+
Squirrel Flower, Kara Jackson Sat 6/26, 7:30 PM, Sleeping Vilage, 3734 W. Belmont, sold out, 21+
In our interview, Williams discussed recording Planet (i) in England, her dim view of Elon Musk, and the necessity of imagining a better future, among other topics. The transcript has been edited for length and clarity.
Right? I feel like it fits, like, “Of course there’s going to be a tornado as I’m shooting a music video for a song from this album.” I feel like those moments in those songs are affirmations. I’m trying to tell myself that I’m not scared, that I’m going to face this thing.
What I was doing with these songs was trying to grapple with my fear of climate doom and disaster in the same way I was trying to grapple with the fear of my body deteriorating, because I was experiencing these relentless concussions over and over again. It got to a point where I had to overcome the fear of pain and disability.
It was insane working with Ali—and his friend Adrian Utley, the guitarist of Portishead, played on the record. It felt too casual. They were both very laid-back and down-to-earth.
