The collaboration, which ultimately became a celebration of resilience and positivity, almost didn’t happen. On the day Israel invaded Gaza, John was deeply affected by the news and questioned whether it was right to continue recording. “Brandi was staying at her house next door, and I had all the newspapers on the table. I said, ‘Why are we doing an album when all this is going on? It seems inhumane to be recording,’” he recalled.

However, Carlile quickly countered his doubts with a heartfelt response. “We’re going to see the positive,” she told him. “We musicians need to bring the world together. That’s our purpose.” Her words resonated with John, sparking a shift in perspective. She went on to write ‘A Little Light’, a song inspired by her belief in music’s ability to uplift and connect people.

John credited that moment as a turning point for the entire album. “That really turned the album around,” he said. From that point on, the project gained momentum, with a renewed sense of purpose driving the music.

When first envisioning the album, John was adamant that he and Carlile avoid the predictable route of dramatic power ballads. “I didn’t want it to be one line her, one line me,” he explained. “I wanted it to be harmonies. I wanted it to be a proper duet record.”

Carlile echoed that sentiment, sharing how John’s determination to defy expectations inspired their creative process. “We kept the ballads to a minimum because he was like, ‘Everybody will expect us to get together and do power ballads. Let’s do uptempo, positive, uplifting songs,’” she said. “And I was like, ‘Well, that’s kind of an amazing assignment.’”

With longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin contributing lyrics and Andrew Watt handling production, the team hit their stride quickly. John described the energy in the studio as electric. “I didn’t want to go back and make an album I’ve done before. I wanted to push Brandi, and she pushed me, and Andrew pushed both of us to an intense degree. Bernie as well,” he said. “And in the end, we were just roaring. We were recording a track a day, and instant first takes.”

The result is an album that captures both artists’ passion and belief in the power of music. Though the world remains uncertain, ‘Who Believes in Angels?’ stands as a testament to resilience and hope — a reminder that even in the darkest moments, creativity can serve as a unifying force.

For John, the key to musical growth lies in live performance. Drawing from his own journey, he emphasized how playing live gave him the resilience needed for long-term success.

“That experience stood me in great stead for when I became Elton John because I had backbone. And backbone is so important,” he said. “The worst thing that can happen to you in the industry are things like X Factor and instant fame on television where you have no experience of playing live. You get put on stage, you go, and you can’t do it. That’s the worst thing. American Idol — just the worst. Take risks. Go and play in a pub.”

Carlile, meanwhile, believes building a supportive network is essential, saying: “Honestly, make friends,” she advised, “Get a community around you.”

Elton also reflected on the transformative power of music in his life: “I can’t live without music. It nearly killed me, but it also kept me alive, and it keeps me alive today. But not the music of the past so much. Although I do listen to jazz and stuff like that, it’s the music of the future that keeps me alive,” he said.

When it comes to his relationship with Carlile, John’s admiration is evident: “I love her so much and not just as a person, but I love what’s inside of her musically and creatively,” he said. “It hasn’t really touched the surface. I think it’s beginning to, but it’s got so much further to go. She’s like an embryo at the moment, and she’s done a hell of a lot to be an embryo, but she’s going to just burst.”

For aspiring musicians, John reiterated the importance of perseverance: “Just keep trying to play live. That’s the way you improve as a musician and songwriter. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing to 40 people. The more experience you get playing to nobody, the better. Because when I played in Musicology, we played to hardly anybody sometimes,” he said.

John and Carlile’s new collaboration album will arrive later this month.