A Dirty Dozen with ELISE ERIKSEN – January 2021

According to a recent press release: “Emerging pop starlet Elise Eriksen has released the music video for her feel-good debut single “Less,” co-written by multi-platinum-selling songwriter Julia Michaels. The effortlessly cool visual features cameos from Shoffy and Blu DeTiger, who plays bass on the track, and shows Elise defying expectations to stand out and be herself alongside a cast of her best friends. The video follows the recent release of “Less” which saw its shimmering, up-tempo beats and Elise’s radiant, jazz-infused vocals featured on key pop playlists worldwide,  including Spotify’s global New Music Friday playlists, Fresh & Chill, Apple’s Pop Deluxe, and many more. The track, which reflects on growing apart in a relationship, is also featured on a large billboard in Los Angeles and received multiple spins on BBC Radio 2 – the biggest radio station in Europe. With more music to come and a big 2021 ahead of her, Elise is uplifting listeners through her own form of emotionally honest yet seemingly carefree pop.” We get Elise to discuss new music, influences, and much more…

1. Tell us a little about “Less.”  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material?

One of the things that I think makes “Less” a really interesting song is the way it blends genres. The chords are all jazz based which might not be obvious at first but is what makes it sound different from a more generic pop song. There are also elements of funk, disco, and r&b, and Blu DeTiger laid down the most vicious bassline. Another fun fact is that the song was originally a ballad, but we ended up remixing it and changing the vibe entirely, so it felt totally personal to me.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

I have grown up around music and always had a love and appreciation for it. I was lucky to be part of a musical family and took singing and piano lessons from when I was super young. It has been a gradual process, but I realized I wanted to pursue music as a career when I started to find my own voice and felt that I had something to say. I’d got to the point where I needed to do more than just cover other people’s songs, so I started learning more about writing and production, and worked on my ideas and songs until I felt confident enough to share them with the world.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

There are so many influences in my music because I love such a wide range of genres. Part of me loves artists like Rihanna, Alicia Keys, and Whitney Houston because of their cool soulfulness while part of me looks up to Stevie Nicks and Queen. Finding a way to learn from their signature styles and create my own is my main goal. I would say all these artists have contributed to making my musical style what it is today.

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

My five main musical influences are Alicia Keys, Stevie Nicks, Whitney Houston, Queen and Rihanna. All of these artists have such recognizable voices and styles of singing that I have always really admired. Having character and standing out from everyone else is one of the most important parts of being an artist and all of these people do it with mastery.

5. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

My dream collaborator would be Travis Scott. I’ve always been a huge fan of his music which shows every year on my Spotify wrapped when he is my # 1 most played artist. Having a verse on a song by Travis would be the most surreal feeling on earth! He manages to take his songs to a whole new dimension. He is amazing.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before?

I would describe my music as fun, upbeat, and funky indie pop. Songs that have something deeper to them, that mean something to me, and hopefully to everyone else listening!

7. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

My most starstruck moment was when I was 13 and met Justin Bieber. I remember sitting in an office waiting for treatment from a chiropractor and then he sits down right across from me. I was shocked to say the least and completely speechless, and when he got up I just started crying. I think it’s safe to say it was the highlight of my middle school years.

8. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

The best part of being a musician is having the opportunity to say something and tell a story through a song. It does not matter how big or small your message is, but if it can touch and relate to someone that would make me happy. If I could no longer be a musician, I would definitely still want to stay in the music world. I have always loved vinyl and recently acquired a couple of SL-1210 Technics turntables that I have been playing with. They inspired me to take up a little djing. I have also always loved making playlists and playing them pre-COVID-19 when we could see friends and attend events.

9. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer?

I have always wanted an interviewer to ask me what fashion brand I would most want to be sponsored by. My answer to this would absolutely be Gucci. Their brand has so much history, diversity, and the most impressive statement pieces I have ever seen. All the colors and unique designs are always something I have dreamed of wearing.

10. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Easy answer… Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd. There are thousands of sounds in that song that I am so curious about, and would love to know how they came about, in addition to the album being a masterpiece. The creativity that each one of the members of that band brings to the group is something I can only dream of witnessing in real life.

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Category: Interviews