2 weeks after her debut album “Chaotic“, Ellise is sharing with us everything about his music career, goals, inspirations, and more.
Tell us about your latest single ‘Over Breakfast,’ how was it working on it, and what is the story behind it?
Over Breakfast is essentially about knowing your relationship with someone is changing for the worse- and the feeling of knowing the end is near. I knew the person I was with didn’t feel the same about me anymore, but I didn’t want to believe it. That’s why it goes “just save it for breakfast,” because you want a few more moments before it all comes to an end. I wrote the song just after I got broken up with while laying in my bed at a super low point.
You are creative and very visual, how involved are you in all your video creation processes? Such as photography, production, costumes?
I’m involved in everything. I conceptualize everything and have a great creative team around me to help add to my ideas, and make them come to life. For the Over Breakfast video, we wanted to strip it back to be really simple, the same way the song is. It was just my friend and digital content creator/videographer Marc and I, plus my makeup artist Teresa. We flew into my hometown and shot the video in just a few hours.
You turned your YouTube videos at some point from a hobby into a career, and that was your serious step into entering the world of music as a professional. Do you remember at what point it was and what you felt at that moment?
I was pretty young when I started posting cover on youtube and instagram. It sort of felt like the first building block of becoming an artist, because everything I do now stems from my love of singing. Taking the step from singing other people’s songs, though, to making my own original music, is what really changed the game for me.
How did the pandemic change you as a musician and what have you learned about yourself during the past year?
I’m introverted and usually like to be alone to begin with, so the pandemic actually allowed me to really sit with myself and figure out what I wanted to say as an artist. I’m sure many people related to this- the past year has changed my perspective on life and the world. I feel like I’ve grown up a lot and I definitely think it shows through in my music.
Your songs are based on your personal experiences – is songwriting how you deal with life’s difficulties?
Writing in general always has been. I was a kid who always kept a diary growing up. I also loved reading all through my childhood and teenage years. What I really think it is, I’m not great at saying how I feel or expressing myself when I talk. I tend to get choked up on words and can never fully execute what I want to say. But with writing, I can map it all out in front of my eyes and it just makes so much more sense. So yes, I’d say songwriting has become the best way for me to understand myself and how I’m feeling.
As an artist, you are influenced by other artists you value and admire, who are the artists who have influenced you over the years, and is there anyone special?
Lorde is a huge one for me. The way she songwrites is really what made me want to be an artist. I also love Lana Del Rey, Ariana Grande, Frank Ocean. Basically any artist who tends to create an entire universe around them- it captures my attention and inspires me.
What inspired your single ‘Feeling Something Bad’ and what do you hope to communicate with it?
Feeling Something Bad is about having an unattainable crush on someone who you know isn’t right for you. I added vocal effects into the song to feel like a sort of “inner voice,” and I wanted the song to feel like a push and pull between wanting to be with someone, but knowing it’s wrong.
You and many artists share their daily lives on social media. How important is exposure and connection to the audience for you?
I think it’s super important. My fans and I talk everyday. I love being able to connect with my audience and let them know what’s happening with my life, and ask them about their lives as well.
From all the singles you’ve released so far, which one still makes you excited every time you hear it?
They honestly all do!! I’m so proud of this album, every song feels like one chapter of a storybook to me. They’re like pieces all fit together to create one body of work.
