Elle L. exudes an ineffable aura of artistic authenticity and raw talent, positioning her as a burgeoning force to be reckoned with in the ever-evolving landscape of pop music. With a unique blend of pop and R&B influences, Elle L’s music has struck a chord with fans all over the UK.
Welcome to the world of Elle L, the sensational British singer-songwriter who is taking the music industry by storm. Her sweet melodies and soulful voice continue to earn her an ardent following, enraptured by the infectious beats and profound lyrics that permeate her music. It’s no wonder that her single “Lovestruck” has become a viral sensation, racking up thousands of views on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.
Black jacket: Nadine Merabi
Thrilled to have had the opportunity to photograph her and try and capture the energy of the brilliant musician that is Elle_L
Andy Earl
But there’s more to Elle L than just her music. In this exclusive interview, we delve deeper into the world of Elle L, uncovering the inspiring stories and experiences that have shaped her music and her life. From her early beginnings in the industry to her experiences with love and performance anxiety, to describing the feeling of vulnerability and surrendering to love, and the inspiration behind her song “Lovestruck”. Elle L. shares with us the importance of healthy relationships and her journey towards finding true love. Granting us an intimate glimpse into the essence of this emerging star.
Risking it all: Elle L’s entry into the dynamic world of music
Fab: What is your story, and what prompted your entrance into the dynamic world of music?
Elle L: I had a moment when I wanted to risk it all. I had to go where I wanted. At the time, I was working in film. I was actually at CNN and had a fantastic job creating content and a little music just after I left the university. I was happy, but I was not fulfilled. That’s the only way I can describe it. One day, I had a moment of awakening and realised that if I could be somewhat successful doing something I enjoyed, why not pursue my passion for music? I loved it so much, but it had always been a private passion. But my family was always encouraging me to go ahead.
Fab: What’s your creative process like when you’re writing music?
Elle: Writing music is therapeutic for me. It’s always there, whether I’m having a good or bad day. When you absorb a lot of emotional energy, you have to express it, whether it’s through painting, talking, or music. For me, music is a certain form of expression. My latest project, Constellations, was inspired by the universe and my existential curiosity.
Writing music is therapeutic for me. It’s always there, whether I’m having a good or bad day.
Fab: How would you characterise your sound, and what are the core values that drive your artistry?
Elle L: In terms of how I describe my music, I touched upon the songwriting inspirations of more like the 80s and 90s. I think there’s something really beautiful and iconic about those decades and the music that came out of them that we’re still listening to today and still heavily influenced by. I would like to think that I’m more of a craft artist, and you might get a glimpse of what I’m trying to achieve with my next project, called ‘Constellations’, which is my first body of work. But I think in terms of how I would describe it, I mean, again, because we’re breaking genres more and more in this generation. It’s a kind of electropop. Vocally, I like very delicate vocalists like Kate Bush or, as someone recently said, the 80s Madonna. These are the kinds of artists that have very feminine vocals.
The inspiration behind “Love Struck”
Fab: What’s the inspiration behind the romantic themes in your most recent single, “Lovestruck”?
Elle: The inspiration for “Love Struck” came from personal experiences. Specifically, the song was about the first time my neighbour went away during lockdown. It was the feeling of missing someone when they were away which was magnified during lockdown. I got the feeling, the real thing. The song uses a thunderstorm as a metaphor for the intense feeling of falling in love. It’s a vulnerable feeling, but also magical and amazing.
Sometimes, being so open and in love can be scary. But there is that feeling with thunderstorms. It’s bigger than you, a bit scary but beautiful. When it strikes you, there’s nothing you can do. You just have to go with it, because love is what life is all about.
Fab: Your song ‘Hope’ has some deep lyrics, Elle. Has love been tough for you? What’s your love life like?
Elle: It goes again to the theme running throughout the music. Love is about being open, vulnerable, and real. It’s both wonderful and scary. But you have to risk it all. Love is bigger than us, so we have to surrender to it, and I think there’s a real strength in that honesty, vulnerability, and fragility. True love is where you’re not putting up boundaries and constructs and barriers, and that’s really vulnerable and strong but scary. That’s my experience. Stay up to date on the newest in the world of Fashion, Arts, Beauty and Lifestyle; Follow FAB on Instagram.
The importance of healthy love
Fab: Love can be tough, but it’s worth it, right? How do you handle all the responsibilities that come with being in a relationship?
Elle L: I think I’m super lucky because I’m in a healthy relationship, and that’s something that’s not spoken about enough. From previously dating toxic musicians and people in the creative industry, it’s interesting because now I’m in something healthy. It’s so much easier to be vulnerable because you don’t get let down, and it’s a really beautiful thing. We don’t celebrate healthy love enough. It feels super rare, and it shouldn’t be.
I think you have to be on that journey of healing, respecting, and loving yourself to gravitate towards that. It’s definitely a journey, but as I come into myself, I’m learning how to love in a beautiful, healthy, and real way.
Fab: Speaking of healthier relationships, let’s talk about healthy performance. Performing can be nerve-wracking. How do you deal with performance anxiety?
Elle: Oh, my God. Surprisingly, I am the most anxious person, especially since the lockdown. I used to be a lot more calm and collected. I feel everything so deeply and amplified that the smallest thing can give me the biggest feeling of anxiety. So it’s a constant process to learn how to centre myself and not get that dissociation where I’m completely overwhelmed. I think I’ve always thrown myself into the deep end of things, and I think that actually helps in a strange way.
My first ever live performance was live on the BBC, and I didn’t tell my band at the time because I felt they’d freak out. And then I headlined a gig at a place called ‘Trans Nightclub’ in London, and then I realised I needed to write more materials because I’m still on my third full-length single.
I’ve still got a long way to go with regards to knowing what performance anxiety feels like because I’ve never really had a taste of it. But what I would say is that I think performance anxiety is something everybody can relate to because we were isolated for such a long time during lockdown that even the smallest social interactions can bring that feeling of anxiety we never had before and have amplified it.
I’m constantly learning, and I don’t always get it right, but I think things like yoga help me at the moment. It’s been a transformative thing to bring to my life because it aligns my mind with my body, soul, and spirit, and all these things should be acting in harmony. I have a lot of adrenaline, and I think that’s a good thing sometimes because I can be very hypersensitive or hyper-emotional, which is good for my art. But the downside is that when you have a lot of adrenaline, you need to physically burn it off. So when I work with my vocal coach, she gets me to move physically around, and in that moment, I feel like I’m in a slow-like state where everything just works and I don’t overproduce before that. But I’m still evolving into this.
Fab:If you could collab or go on tour with one artist, who would it be and why?
Elle L: I’m not sure if I can give you an answer for one, but I can give you three. I definitely think of Coldplay and Labyrinth. And someone like Sia, because she is just so cool. She’s amazing. And I think, also, that I like an artist who’s more of a producer called Flume. I think he’s amazing. Like, yeah, you can choose one for me or just give me all.
Fab: So, you’re into soul and old-school music?
Elle: Yes, I love old-school music and emotional artists who wear their hearts on their sleeves. You can hear it in their voices. That’s what makes music so powerful. Sometimes, when you can’t express your own feelings or communicate, or if you’re too shy or don’t have the desire to speak out, music can help you express yourself.
Fab: I know you love fashion. Do you have a favourite brand, and what do you consider when buying clothes?
Elle: Fashion and music are deeply connected, and I believe fashion should be a force for good and a positive economy. Vivienne Westwood was a true fashion icon who believed in being a pioneer and did not care about what others thought. I love upcycling and vintage pieces, and I support a nonprofit design centre in Texas run by designer Rene Garza. I hope more designers start integrating digital collections into their main lines.
Elle L. on Sustainability
I really love looking at sustainability through the lens of kindness
Elle L.
Fab: We are aware of your involvement in community-based sustainability projects. Would you care to divulge any specifics on your current community development and sustainability initiatives?
Elle L: One of my most recent projects has been with UNESCO MGIEP. My official role was kindness champion. They did the “Kindness Matters” campaign, which was a global campaign. I performed live for the UNESCO Third World Youth Conference on the theme of kindness. And then there is MGIEP, which is the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development.
I really loved looking at sustainability through the lens of kindness, because previously, I thought, it has to be about getting your hands dirty; it has to be tough. But how are you going to change the world? By making people feel good and believe that they can make a change, that their voice matters, and that their small action counts. And so for me, kindness has been a really beautiful way to look at sustainability because it also links to mental health. And I think if we can be kind to ourselves and kind to others while still having boundaries, because I don’t think people should tolerate bad behaviour, I think that should be kindly sort of called out. But at the same time, I do think we should advocate for being kind to ourselves where possible, and that’s an interesting way to look at sustainability for me.
Meanwhile, I try to incorporate sustainability into my life, wherever and however possible. I’ve written articles and am constantly doing projects, whether that be with platforms like the United Nations Environment Programme, a new fashion brand, or just incorporating sustainability.
Fab: What’s next for you?
Elle: As I’ve already alluded to slightly, I have a new project that will be coming out hopefully in the early summer, and it’s called ‘Constellations’. It’s a five-track EP currently, which is all to do with interconnection, human interconnection, interstellar interconnection, and my curiosity with the supernatural being, the universe, from which we come. And yeah, it’s a beautiful feeling to create something that means something to you and that you want to share. I’m really excited for that.
I’m just at the stage of putting my visual ideas together and hopefully working with some like-minded people on the project. The hard work has been done up front. Now it’s just about polishing this diamond, this piece of coal, into a diamond. But that’s what’s coming next for sure.
Check Elle out on instagram @ellel__
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