Elissa Parsons
The Melbourne singer-songwriter blends lush strings, layered vocals, and intimate storytelling to create a cinematic pop ballad.
Elissa Parsons has always carried a touch of cinema in her voice, but with her new single In Between, she steps fully into the widescreen. The Melbourne artist returns with a sweeping pop ballad that glows with orchestral warmth, delicate piano, and more than a dozen intertwining vocal layers that unfold like a scene-stealing moment from a film you can’t quite place but instantly feel. Deeply influenced by nostalgic ’90s romantic soundtracks and the emotional immediacy of artists like Laufey and Georgia Lines, Parsons shapes a sound that’s equal parts intimate and expansive. In Between, out November 6, leans into that duality with startling clarity—balancing close-mic’d vulnerability with arrangements big enough to fill an entire theatre. It’s a world she creates instinctively: a blend of her gospel roots, pop instincts, and a lifelong love of music that feels larger than life.
At its core, In Between is a song about the quiet spaces we often overlook, Parsons writes with a tenderness that refuses to rush, it’s a striking evolution for an artist who has performed across the globe yet continues to return to stories that feel close to home. In Between marks Parsons’ most fully realized work yet—a song that doesn’t simply play like a soundtrack moment, but reminds listeners that their own lives may already be full of them.
When did you first realize that music was your passion?
Elissa Parsons: My whole life has been wrapped in music. I started piano at four, but the moment I knew it meant something deeper was around eight. I’d hit the classic “I hate practising!” stage, and my mum said, “Okay, we can cancel piano lessons.” My reaction was instant and dramatic: “No!!” Even when practising felt hard, the love underneath it kept pulling me back.
The running joke in my family is that my life is basically a musical- I’m always singing, playing, or talking about whatever song has captured me that day. It feels like the most natural thing in the world.
“In Between” is described as a love song that honours the quiet, sacred moments between life’s milestones. What sparked the idea for exploring that theme?
Elissa Parsons: I’ve always loved the idea of honouring not just the destination, but the journey. We’re so quick to want the outcome that we forget to notice, enjoy, or even endure the path that leads us there. I’ve learned some of my biggest lessons in the in-between seasons of life- where things aren’t finished yet, but they’re forming something far greater..
You’ve said the song is about “the spaces between the big events in life.” Can you share a personal moment that influenced that concept?
Elissa Parsons: I’ve walked through an in-between season myself- a kind of pause- where I had to reflect on who I was becoming and where I wanted to go. In that space, I became so aware of the steady love in my life: my husband of almost 22 years, and our beautiful girls.
It’s the emotional temperature in the small moments- the mundane, the uncertain and the ordinary that shaped the heart of this song. Those are the places where love actually lives.
You co-wrote the song with Alex Dukas — what was that collaboration process like? Have you worked with Alex before?
Elissa Parsons: This was my first time working with Alex, and it felt wonderfully serendipitous. Earlier in 2025, I decided on a whim to start doing some open mics again and performed at one that just felt right. Alex was in the audience and also performed that night. We noticed we had similar musical instincts, had a quick chat, and he reached out afterwards about writing together.
I already had the beginnings of “In Between,” and within a few hours we’d finished most of the song. It flowed so easily. Alex was relaxed, receptive, and had lots of creative ideas- a dream collaboration!
Your music blends gospel roots with pop, orchestral elements, lush harmonies, and you’ve mentioned inspiration from film scores, especially the nostalgic sound of Nancy Meyers films. What is it about those cinematic soundscapes that resonates with you?
Elissa Parsons: A lot of it is nostalgia. I was a teenager in the ‘90s, so those sounds- pre-internet, warm, emotive- carry a kind of magic for me. Father of the Bride is one of my favourite films; I still listen to the soundtrack.
But it goes back even further. I remember seeing the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra with my school when I was about eleven. I unexpectedly burst into tears the moment the sound filled the room. I’ve always been deeply moved by music that feels larger than life- the kind that wraps around you and lifts you somewhere else.
Laufey and Georgia Lines are clear musical touchpoints. What did you take from their approaches as you shaped your own sound?
Elissa Parsons: I love how they create worlds you can step into- whole atmospheres you want to live inside for a moment. Their music is emotional and intimate. I’m a big crier (I cry at the drop of a hat!), so I’m drawn to music that evokes a visceral response. I try to carry that same emotional truth into my own work. Who doesn’t love a good, healing cry?
With influences ranging from Mariah Carey to Boyz II Men to 1950s musicals, how do you keep your artistic voice centred while drawing from such a wide palette?
It’s definitely a wide palette! But the thread that ties all those influences together is strong melody and storytelling. That’s what I’m aiming for too- emotional clarity through melody and story.
In Between features an eight-piece string ensemble and more than twelve vocal layers. Can you talk about the arranging process behind building such a lush sound?
Elissa Parsons: It was such an honour to have an eight-piece string ensemble come into the studio. Jared Haschek (who also arranged strings for Jennifer Hudson’s Grammy-nominated Christmas album) took my vision of “nostalgic ’90s rom-com strings” and brought it to life so beautifully.
A week before recording, I spent time experimenting at home with harmonies, vocal layers, and rhythmic ideas, especially for the lift into the final chorus. I wanted the vocals to feel like they were gently rising, blooming into that last emotional push.
You worked closely with producer Jared Haschek, who praised the song’s chord changes and surprise modulation. What production choices were most exciting for you?
Elissa Parsons: The strings were always going to be my favourite- they carry so much of the emotional tone. But I also loved the subtle production choices: the unexpected chord shift Jared suggested in the final chorus, the way the dynamics build so intentionally, and how each layer feels like a brushstroke adding warmth and colour.
As a composer, arranger, vocalist, and pianist, how hands-on were you throughout each stage of the recording?
Elissa Parsons: I love being involved in the details- but in a way that feels collaborative, not controlling. I choose to work with talented, kind people, which makes trusting the process easy.
I came in with stylistic references, chord ideas, and melodic instincts, but I was always open to fresh perspectives. That final chord change Jared suggested is a perfect example- now I can’t imagine the song without it.
What was the most challenging part of creating this track — and what came most naturally?
Elissa Parsons: Nothing was difficult in a negative way – the challenge was simply listening deeply to the finer details, especially from the bridge onward, to make sure every layer served the emotional arc.
The melody, though, came so naturally. As a singer, melody is everything for me, and crafting it for this track was pure joy.
This is your sophomore single. How does In Between reflect where you are creatively right now?
Elissa Parsons: My first single, Glass Ceiling, released three years ago, was piano and vocal- recorded and mixed in my home studio. It reflected who I was as an artist early on: emerging, experimenting, finding my footing.
In Between is the next evolution. Bringing in a producer, musicians, and songwriters has added depth, experience, and a sense of creative community. It reflects a more confident, collaborative version of myself.
You’ve performed across Central America, the Philippines, and Mexico. How have international audiences shaped the way you write or perform?
It’s been a privilege to sing and work with musicians around the world. My church background has always emphasised community, connection, and shared experience, and travelling amplified that even more.
Performing internationally taught me that music transcends language- people feel your heart before anything else. That awareness shapes how I write and how I show up on stage.
Storytelling is central to your work — what story did you most want listeners to walk away with after hearing In Between?
Elissa Parsons: I wanted listeners to notice the people and moments where they feel completely loved without needing to perform or achieve anything. In a world that can feel chaotic, there is still wonder, goodness, and beauty often in the smallest, quietest moments right in front of us.
With this release marking a renewed creative voice for you, what can audiences expect next?
Elissa Parsons: New ideas are already brewing! That’s the beautiful thing about creating- the more you make, the more inspiration you unlock. Expect more music in 2026.
Do you see yourself continuing to lean into cinematic pop, or are there other genres or ideas you’re excited to explore?
Elissa Parsons: I don’t feel tied to one specific genre, but I know I’ll always be drawn to jazz-inspired chords and nostalgic vibes. I’d also love to explore something with a bit more groove- music that makes you feel good.
What’s a quiet “in-between” moment in your own life that you treasure?
Elissa Parsons: Once a year, I go on a personal retreat for a couple of nights to reset. I journal, dream, reflect, and listen. No pressure, no noise, hardly any devices. Those days are sacred to me- a space to realign with what’s next.
If listeners could feel one thing when the song ends, what do you hope it is?
Elissa Parsons: A deep appreciation for the people who make them feel safe and loved- not just in the big milestone moments, but in the soft, ordinary, everyday ones.
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