Elise Trouw Unveils Radical New Album The Diary of Elon Lust, Out February 13th via Midtopia

The project marks a radical departure – and also the most honest work – of Trouw’s career. Across fourteen tracks, The Diary of Elon Lust is told through the lens of Elon Lust, a fictional twenty-something male alter ego who embodies a cocktail of entitlement, objectification, and weaponized likability. Part archetype, part confession, part cautionary tale, Elon is made up of things men have said to Elise. Or to her friends. Or to you.

“I started writing these songs as a joke,” Elise says. “But over time I realized – they weren’t completely jokes. And suddenly, they were the only songs I was writing that felt real.”

The surreal, visually arresting video, also released today, features cherry-headed dancers, giant boob costumes, and dreamlike choreography inspired by Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights. Directed by Trouw, the viewer’s experience deliberately leans into discomfort.

“We wanted it to feel strange and unsettling – somehow sexual, but not sexualized,” Elise explains.

“I didn’t realize until later how much I felt like I had to be palatable,” she reflects. “I wanted to be seen as likable. As someone who could play well and sing well and look good doing it, even if that meant not being my full self.”

Elon Lust offers something different: vulnerability, agency, humor, and sharp discomfort. It’s both a creative risk and a personal unveiling.

“This album might feel like a big departure, but it’s the first time I’ve felt free in my songwriting —it’s my humor, my perspective on the world,” Elise shares. “Even though these songs come from my own experiences, I hope people hear them and understand too.”

The Diary of Elon Lust will be released digitally on February 13th, 2026 via Midtopia. Physical vinyl editions will be available via the Buy Before You Stream initiative.

For more information, visit https://elisetrouw.com/.