Elson's musical career built slowly over the course of several years. In 2003 she contributed backing vocals to a remix of Robert Plant's "Last Time I Saw Her" from Plant's album "Dreamland". In 2005 a personal recording of Elson singing "Coming Down" was made available on a CD accompanying the August 2005 issue of "Uncut" magazine. The song was chosen by REM singer Michael Stipe. She sang a duet with Cat Power of "I Love You (Me Either)" for "Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited", a tribute album to French singer/songwriter Serge Gainsbourg.