The track is widely considered to be a "scrap" from a previous recording era, with conflicting reports on its exact origin:
: A high-quality version of the song appeared online around November 2022 . Because it is a leaked, unreleased demo, it has never received an official digital release or professional article write-up from major music publications like Dork . Ellie Goulding Tainted Memories mp3
Since the song is unreleased, it is not available on official streaming platforms like Spotify or Apple Music. It can primarily be found on community-driven sites: The track is widely considered to be a
: Detailed lists of her unreleased and leaked material, including "Tainted Memories," are maintained by fans on the Ellie Goulding Fandom Wiki. It can primarily be found on community-driven sites:
: Fans and fan-led wikis typically associate the song with either the Brightest Blue (2020) or Higher Than Heaven (2023) recording sessions. Some sources suggest it was recorded specifically during the Brightest Blue era but left off the final tracklist.