Growing up just outside the neon glow of Nashville, Elis Cole was surrounded by musical royalty—his grandfather, Don Winters, was a legendary yodeler and member of the Winters Brothers Band . Yet, Cole’s own path didn't lead to a Broadway stage. Instead, it led to a decade-long deep dive into production that eventually birthed his self-described "upbeat sad boy" sound. In this episode of Curious Goldfish, Jason English sits down with Cole at a songwriter retreat to discuss the transition from technical architect to vulnerable artist.

Cole defines his genre as alt-pop with a twist of hyper-pop energy. While his lyrics often lean into the melancholy of his teenage years, the tracks remain sonically driving . He explains that his writing serves as a "reminiscent" bridge to his past.

His 2023 album, Wrong Person, Right Time, solidified this identity, blending influences like Billie Eilish and Dominic Fike into a cohesive outlet for emotional processing .

After ten years behind the boards, Cole is learning to step away from the "technical and process-oriented" side of music to find his voice as a performer . He notes that producing for himself often creates a "bump" in the creative flow, forcing him to stop the art to fix the tech . This retreat marked a shift toward collaboration, allowing him to focus on the "artistry of Elis Cole" while others handle the production.

Despite his roots, Cole avoids the traditional Broadway circuit, stating, "I don't really mess with Broadway". Instead, he finds community in Nashville’s underground hip hop and indie-folk scenes, where genre-blending is the standard . For Cole, the goal is authenticity over industry expectations, a sentiment echoed in his new teaser track, "2003," which explores the weight of growing up and moving on .