Swedish singer-songwriter Elina has just unveiled her powerful new single Scars, a moving duet with acclaimed British artist James TW. The track offers the first glimpse of her forthcoming EP, A Place I Recognize, out November 14th, which she describes as her boldest and most personal body of work to date.
Built around delicate acoustic lines and spacious, reverb-soaked melodies, Scars grows from quiet intimacy into a soaring, emotional release. “I’ve been a fan of James for years, so having him on this track is such an honour,” Elina explains. “Scars is a song about the way our imperfections shape us and how, in love, we hold each other up through them. It’s about seeing someone fully, not in spite of their scars, but because of them.”
James TW reflects on the collaboration with equal warmth: “Writing Scars in a converted warehouse studio in Shoreditch on a rainy London afternoon was a beautifully calm and inspiring experience. From being a listener of Elina’s music to now collaborating with her on this duet, it feels incredibly special. I love how our voices blend, it brings a unique intimacy and depth to the song.”
The single sets the tone for A Place I Recognize, a project shaped by one of the most transformative seasons of Elina’s life. Musically, the EP sees her leaning into bolder, richer sounds, with a vibrant new energy that mirrors the grounded confidence she has found in this chapter. “Sonically, it’s the boldest I’ve gone,” she says. “It’s been so fun to flirt with the band corners of my heart and bring that energy into something that still feels very me. This project is a reflection of where I am now: more grounded, clear, and finally ready to live in a way that feels true.” Beyond the sound, the record also carries the weight of her personal reinvention. “This EP is about me learning to truly listen to my gut, about letting go of the old to make space for something better, and about letting beautiful things in,” she adds.