Colin 
Elli Glyn steps forward with her new single ‘To Be Loved’, and it lands with honesty, closeness, and a sense of emotional clarity that stays with you. This release centres feeling over spectacle, choosing openness instead of distance. The result feels personal without trying to impress, and that choice gives the song its weight.
‘To Be Loved’ arrives framed around a moment many people recognise but rarely say out loud. It captures the experience of watching someone you once imagined a future with fall in love with somebody else, right in front of you. Elli does not soften that image or disguise it behind metaphor. Instead, the song sits with the discomfort and lets the feeling exist as it is.
The track was produced by Zak Lloyd and recorded at Zeus Studios in Wales. The setting suits the writing. Everything feels close and unguarded, allowing the emotion to lead rather than the arrangement. Nothing pulls attention away from the core of the song, which keeps the focus firmly on the story being told.
Elli describes the song with a simple but striking truth: “Sometimes the most important love story is the one you learn to have with yourself.” That idea runs quietly through every part of ‘To Be Loved’. The song does not rush toward comfort or resolution. Instead, it traces the long stretch between loss and understanding, where questions sit unanswered and feelings remain unresolved.
At its heart, ‘To Be Loved’ explores what comes after heartbreak. The writing acknowledges envy, exhaustion, and longing without judgement. Those emotions are not presented as flaws to overcome but as part of the process. Over time, the song arrives at a fragile realisation that feels earned rather than stated. Even when love is not returned by the person you hoped for, it does not mean you are unworthy of it.
An alternative Valentine’s story
Released in the lead-up to Valentine’s Day, ‘To Be Loved’ offers a different angle on love songs. Rather than romance or reunion, it focuses on unrequited love and the slow rebuilding of self-worth. That contrast gives the song a quiet relevance, especially for listeners who find themselves on the outside of the usual narrative.
Elli’s writing style suits this subject matter. She leans into direct language and clear emotion, avoiding distance or abstraction. The song asks questions rather than answering them, which makes it feel human and lived-in. You are invited to sit with the feeling rather than escape it.
This release marks her most emotionally open work to date. There is a sense that the song exists because it needed to be written, not because it fit a plan. That intent comes through in how the track holds itself, never reaching beyond what the story requires.
Across ‘To Be Loved’, restraint becomes a strength. The emotion is present without being pushed forward. The space between lines matters. That space allows listeners to bring their own experiences into the song, which gives it a wider reach without losing its intimacy.
As a songwriter, Elli shows trust in simplicity. She lets the core idea carry the track, confident that honesty will connect. That trust pays off. ‘To Be Loved’ feels sincere and considered, shaped by feeling rather than expectation.
Review
‘To Be Loved’ works because it stays with the hard part. The song does not skip ahead to healing or closure. Instead, it sits in the middle ground where loss still feels close and self-worth feels distant. That choice gives the track its emotional pull.
Elli’s vocal delivery suits the writing perfectly. She sounds present and unguarded, allowing the lyric to lead. There is no excess or distraction, only a clear focus on the feeling being expressed. The result feels intimate and grounded.
As a release, ‘To Be Loved’ stands out for its honesty. It offers a quiet companion for anyone moving through heartbreak without neat answers. That makes it feel timely, relatable, and deeply human.
You can follow Elli Glyn over on Instagram and you’ll be able to listen to ‘To Be Loved’ in just a couple of days.