Elena Erin – Holy Tender Artist

By starrymag | December 11, 2022

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) I call it “story-telling pop” because I really enjoy writing sort of country lyrics, but with pop melodies and production. There’s some country and pop influence with some alt electro sounds.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) It’s a large variety. Johnny Cash, George Strait, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and Sevdaliza just to name a few.

 

Q) How did your studies at Berklee College of Music help shape you as a musician?

 

A) It was mostly the people. I met the most incredible artists and humans there and they forever changed my life and how I write and sing. It was at Berklee that I got the inspiration to sing my own songs.

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song/video for “Mayhem World?”

 

A) The song is about talking to someone you are really into, thinking they feel the same way, and then realizing that they aren’t going to text you back. It’s about an unrequited love of sorts.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

 

A) I mean, who hasn’t been in love with someone who didn’t feel the same way? I hope listeners hear the sound and the lyrics and feel like they aren’t alone in the chaos of “situationships.”

 

Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?

 

A) The visuals show the humbling experience of being stood up at the bar, trying to numb the hurt of being ghosted, essentially.

 

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

 

A) It’s so different every single time. Some songs have come together from lyrics and melodies written over the years; it’s just a matter of finding the right fit for them. Others take fifteen minutes to write and another ten to touch up, and then we take it into the studio and record it.

 

Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?

 

A) A lot actually! It’s a big reason why I choose to stay as an independent artist. I’ve worked with a few producers over the years, but the main person I collaborate with is Pablo San Martin. We’ve worked together since my very first EP and he always understands my vision.

 

Q) What are the themes you explore on your debut album Holy Tender Artist?

 

A) Friendship, Heartbreak, and self-discovery are the main themes. The biggest one is the love that comes from friendship. A lot of songs are about romantic love that doesn’t really last or work out, but then there are songs like “We Could Grow Old Together,” where I sing about growing old and traveling with my best friend.

 

Q) Which of the songs on the album challenged you the most creatively?

 

A) Great question. “Almost Famous” was a really challenging one. It’s the first song on the album but it took the longest to write. It’s quite raw and honest.

 

Q) Which track or tracks hold a special place in your heart?

 

A) “Almost Famous” is so vulnerable but empowering for me. And, of course, “Build a Ship” is so special to me because it was picked up by Canadian radio and became my first single on national radio. It landed at number two on the Canadian Top 20 and, yeah, I’ll never forget how grateful I was/am for everyone who listened, requested and voted for me during that time.

 

Q) What do you hope listeners take away from exploring the music on Holy Tender Artist?

 

A) I hope they take the message that we are meant to live the human experience wholly. The heartache, the pain, the love, the joy – all aspects are what create a meaningful life. I hope people hear that when they listen to the album.

 

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

 

A) There have been some really amazing coffee houses in New York that were so fun to perform at, but the most meaningful place is anywhere in my hometown. I have so much support there, and the buildings I hold shows in are the same buildings that used to host my piano recitals when I was 8 years old. That’s really special to me.

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

 

A) I think it would be incredible to work with Sevdaliza one day in some aspects.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

 

A) Ironically, I’m so sporadic with social media! I really need to prioritize it because for the time being, it’s where fans connect with me. But my goal is to be able to connect more with them. It’s amazing to be able to connect with people from all over the world, just through an app.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

 

A) I greatly appreciate the love and support they give me. One time at a show in New York a girl came up to me and told me she had traveled four hours by train with her mom just to come see me perform. She said I inspired her to keep up with her music and songwriting goals and that will always stick with me. I write music because it’s my passion, but my biggest goal is that it can touch the life of just one person. The people that listen to me, stream my music and share my albums with their friends are the ones that let me keep doing what I’m doing, and I hope I can inspire them as much as they inspire me. I’m so grateful for all of it.