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IE : Like the rest of us , were you scared , confused at first about this pandemic ? EK : One hundred percent . But I ’ ve found through the different trials in my life that every experience is truly a message for growth . So this has been an opportunity for

EK : Well , I was kind of getting a little wrapped up in the fear , and I was letting the fear of the unknown consume me . And I grew up with the Christian faith , so part of me was like , “ Oh , my gosh — is this the end of the world ?” Because at the end of the day , Mother Nature will take over and will bring change upon us . So I just reached a point where I thought , “ I can ’ t let this consume me anymore .” So I started changing certain routines in my life , and moving my body more and trying to exercise my brain . And it ’ s been really great — I actually feel really good . Now I meditate . I do yoga . I box . And boxing is genuinely the most amazing thing , because it ’ s such an incredible release of energy , of emotions , frustration , anger , and it ’ s a very loving thing that you can do for yourself . And there ’ s something to be said about when you

Elle King

me to really dig deep within . I ’ ve gotten so accustomed to my schedules on tour that that routine , that cycle , and pattern have become my comfort zone . And now I ’ m like , “ Hey — what do I DO ?” So I ’ ve been writing a ton of music , I ’ ve been painting , and I ’ ve been writing poetry . This really opened up my creativity — it ’ s been a very teaching experience . IE : What was the turning point , when fear morphed into inspiration ?

strengthen your body , and you know that you ’ re doing something good for yourself . So how can you not feel good about that ? This is an introspective time , a time of solitude and isolation , and everyone has a different opportunity to push themselves . So I didn ’ t want all this fear to consume me , so , like I told my nieces and my nephew , “ I ’ m also going to push myself and try to better myself so that when this eventually grinds to a halt , and we

become a world again , I want to be really ready to re-enter that .”

IE : Have you got a thwappity-thwappity speed bag at home ? EK : I do ! Yes , I do . And I get very , very loud , and my neighbors are very close to me , so they can all definitely hear me boxing .

IE : In your new photos , you look like you ’ ve lost a lot of weight . EK : Thank you , but those are good angles . But I really have been trying hard to — well , not even lose weight , but about two years

ago , I went through really heavy depression , and sugar is a heavy addiction of mine , along with many other things . So I was trying to fill this hole that I had in me , and I felt really unhealthy , and I felt like I struggled to sing , and I just didn ’ t feel good in my body . So I wanted to get myself free of that , and now I just feel so much better , you know ? So it ’ s not about numbers on a scale or anything — it ’ s just about how you feel .

IE : And you ’ d already battled the drug and booze demons while you were making your last album , Shake the Spirit ( 2018 ).

18 illinoisentertainer . com march 2022