Elderbrook Breathes New Life Into "Bette Davis Eyes" With Intimate Hotel Room Sessions Cover

There's something beautifully lo-fi about the idea of a Grammy-nominated artist setting up shop in a hotel room between tour dates, armed with nothing but a mic and a melody. For Elderbrook, it's become something of a ritual—a creative outlet born from the strange liminal spaces of life on the road. And his latest offering, a stripped-down reimagining of Kim Carnes' 1981 smash "Bette Davis Eyes," proves that sometimes the most captivating productions are the ones that strip everything back.

Released as part of his ongoing YouTube series "Hotel Room Sessions," this isn't your typical cover. Elderbrook's version opens with his signature dusky vocals—clear, expressive, and achingly vulnerable—floating over minimal organic instrumentation that feels like it's being whispered rather than performed. As the track unfolds, the production gradually blossoms, wrapping euphonious layers around his voice without ever overwhelming it. The result is a feelsy, sing-along-ready interpretation that lets the iconic lyrics shine with fresh emotional weight.

"I've been doing these Hotel Room Sessions for years now," Elderbrook explains. "Whenever I'm traveling for shows, I end up with so much extra time in hotel rooms, so I thought I'd find something productive to do. The Bette Davis Eyes cover stood out to me, and people really connected with it, which brings us here. This is the first Hotel Room Session that I have released outside of YouTube."

The track marks the third in a triumphant trifecta of recent singles from the British artist, following October's collaboration "Teardrop" with Jan Blomqvist and April's "Waterfall" with Ahmed Spins. It's clear Elderbrook is in a prolific phase, channeling his restless creative energy into a string of releases that showcase his evolving sound while staying true to his emotive, genre-blending roots.

Since exploding onto the global stage with 2017's "Cola" (his breakout collaboration with CamelPhat), Elderbrook has built a career defined by emotional depth and sonic exploration. Three acclaimed albums—"Why Do We Shake in the Cold?" (2020), "Little Love" (2023), and "Another Touch" (2024)—have cemented his reputation as an artist who refuses to be boxed in, amassing over 2 billion streams worldwide and collaborations spanning Diplo, Black Coffee, Vintage Culture, and Bob Moses.

But it's his live show that really tells the story. Whether he's commanding Coachella's Sahara Stage, selling out Red Rocks Amphitheatre, or touring alongside heavyweights like Jungle, RÜFÜS DU SOL, and ODESZA, Elderbrook brings a dynamic, visceral energy that translates the intimacy of tracks like "Bette Davis Eyes" into arena-sized catharsis. With a run of standout live dates on the horizon, there's never been a better time to catch him in action.

Listen to "Bette Davis Eyes":

Elderbrook's forthcoming shows:

Dec 12, 2025 - A.I. Warehouse - Washington, DC
Dec 13, 2025 - Marquee New York - New York, NY
Dec 14, 2025 - We Belong Here - St. Petersburg, FL
Jan 14, 2026 - AO Live - Melbourne, Australia
Feb 05, 2026 - Igloofest Montréal 2026 - Montréal, Quebec
Mar 06-07, 2026 - M3F Festival - Phoenix, AZ
Mar 18-22, 2026 - SXM Festival - Marigot, Saint Martin