Carry On (Shitty City)

About

Carry On (Shitty Little City) is a collaboration between Robbie Williams and Californian musician and yoga teacher Kai Elle, whose real name is Kyle Lardner. The track first appeared on Kai Elle’s SoundCloud and YouTube accounts around 2012 and was officially released on 17 February 2015 through her independent label, Lardner Music and Pictures. It has since been removed from most streaming services but remains available on her YouTube channel under her full name.

Williams performs harmony and background vocals, blending with Kai Elle’s lead to create a relaxed, sun-soaked sound. The production layers piano, soft beats and subtle electronic textures, evoking a mellow Californian atmosphere. Its refrain, “carry on in this shitty little city,” loops throughout, giving the song a hypnotic, meditative quality that contrasts frustration with calm acceptance. The result is an ambient, introspective piece that sits between indie pop and downtempo electronica.

The collaboration appears to have stemmed from Williams’ social circle in Los Angeles. Kai Elle was photographed at a Christmas gathering in 2014 with Williams, Ayda Field and comedian Mark Hayes, suggesting that the project emerged informally among friends. Although never promoted or included on an album, it has gained attention among collectors as one of Williams’ rarest guest appearances.

“Carry On (Shitty Little City) was created as a reflection on life in Los Angeles, a song about persistence and the beauty hidden in chaos.”Kai Elle

Carry On (Shitty Little City) remains a distinctive curiosity in Robbie Williams’ catalogue, a quietly atmospheric collaboration that captures the reflective mood of his Los Angeles years.