Carry On

Carry On (Shitty Little City) was officially released on 16 February 2015 as a collaboration between Robbie Williams and Californian musician and yoga teacher Kai Elle, born Kyle Lardner. The track had first appeared around 2012 on Kai Elle’s SoundCloud and YouTube channels before its independent release through her label, Lardner Music and Pictures. It has since been removed from most streaming platforms but remains accessible via her YouTube account under her full name.

Williams provides harmony and background vocals, supporting Kai Elle’s lead performance. The production layers piano, soft programmed beats and subtle electronic textures, creating a relaxed, sun soaked atmosphere. Its recurring refrain, “carry on in this shitty little city,” lends the track a looping, meditative quality that balances frustration with calm detachment.

The collaboration appears to have emerged informally from Williams’ Los Angeles social circle. Kai Elle was photographed at a Christmas gathering in 2014 alongside Williams, Ayda Field and comedian Mark Hayes, suggesting the recording developed among friends rather than as part of a formal album campaign.

Never promoted commercially nor included on a Robbie Williams studio release, Carry On (Shitty Little City) has nonetheless attracted interest among collectors as one of the more obscure guest appearances in his catalogue.