La Roux on Finding Her Heartbeat Again, Outgrowing “Bulletproof” and Returning With “Old Flames

La Roux’s “Bulletproof” became the kind of global hit most artists spend a lifetime chasing. The surprising part? Elly Jackson says the lyrics never represented how she actually felt. After six years without new music, La Roux returns with Cabin Fever, Baby Line and a deeply personal new album, Old Flames. She opens up about the mental health struggles, industry setbacks and perfectionism that kept her working behind the scenes while the public assumed she had disappeared. Elly also reveals how late-’90s and early-2000s pop, R&B and hip-hop shaped her new sound, from Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson and Timbaland to The Neptunes, G-Unit and Tamia. She explains why she usually avoids traditional writing sessions, what it would take for her to collaborate more often and why connecting with the right creative energy matters more than simply finishing a song. Plus, La Roux reflects on the complicated legacy of “Bulletproof,” working with Tyler, the Creator, supporting Hilary Duff on tour and finally making music that feels like she has found her heartbeat again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices