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shemakesmusic-uk · 3 years

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INTERVIEW: Elohim.

Los Angeles-based artist Elohim recently released her new EP Journey to the Center of Myself Vol.2.

Earlier this year, Elohim announced to the world her four-part Journey to the Center of Myself project, the first volume of which was revealed on June 25. The project came as a result of setting up a home studio during lockdown, which provided a creative period of inspiration reminiscent of her early years spent learning her craft; without rules, expectations, or schedules.

With multifarious production styles and a voice that lends itself as well to an EDM banger as it does a delicate piano ballad, the Elohim sound is hard to pin down. Journey to the Center of Myself Vol.1 was heralded by a variety of sounds, including Scandi-flavoured pop banger ‘Nice’, the chiming and ethereal melodies of ‘Creatures’ reminiscent of the likes of Purity Ring, and lead single ‘Strut ft. Big Freedia’ - a surefire cut for the catwalk.

Whilst Volume 1 is seen as the beginning of Elohim’s passage to self-discovery, Volume 2, shows Elohim searching for a state of optimum happiness; stepping into a self-made dream world to find the confidence to handle any situation.

We had a chat with Elohim all about the EP, the project as a whole, the struggles she has faced in the industry and more. Read the interview below.

Hi! How has this year been for you so far? You've been very busy!

“Hi!! It has been an interesting year for sure. Somewhat emerging out of isolation has been a lot more difficult mentally than I thought it would be. And it is ok to admit that. I felt a bit alone but the more I talked to people the more I realized I wasn't. I played my first show in a year and a half this year in Chicago. I headlined, I played Lollapalooza and I played Hard Summer. I've been creating and releasing music. I feel lucky every day for those opportunities but they don't always come easy.”

You've recently released your new EP Journey to the Center of Myself Vol.2 which is the second installment of a four part project. Tell us how more about how the project came about and what this volume is about in particular.

“Before Covid hit I was on my headline "Group Therapy" tour and I had planned to release my full length album around shows in summer 2020. Everything changed and I went back to the drawing board.. aka my bedroom.. and made a ton of new music. I already had the title for my album Journey to the Center of Myself, but once I decided to actually make four volumes the title took on a whole new meaning. I really feel like over the last year and a half I really got to the center of myself. It felt like my first years of creating and producing but with way more life experience, shows, and releases. It just felt free.. none of us knew what was going to happen or when isolation would end.”

Musically, how is the Journey to the Center of Myself project different (or similar) to your previous releases? Were there any musical influences or sounds that you were able to incorporate on this that you hadn’t previously?

“The process of making a lot of this music was some of the most freeing moments I've ever experienced. I had many instruments all set up and ready to record. I was able to jump from a drum kit to an acoustic piano to an analog synth seamlessly. I love creating like this. I love being able to jam and get as weird as I possibly feel I need to at that moment... or be able to sit down at the piano and write a ballad. No rules, just freedom.”

What was the most challenging part of creating Journey to the Center of Myself?

“Honestly the most challenging part was narrowing down the music into four different EPs. I created SO much music over the last year and a half. They all become my babies and they all are my favorite songs when I make them. So that was really the only challenging part.. having too much cool music... haha but in all seriousness it's actually such a blessing.”

What do you hope fans will take away from the project?

“I hope that in some way it makes the listener feel less alone in their own personal daily struggles. I want them to feel loved and appreciated. I make this music to give a magical, meaningful experience and everyone wants and needs something different and that is the beautiful thing about music. It can mean different emotions to everyone.”

And what can we expect from volumes 3 and 4?

“I really went deep and went to the center of me more so than I had before on volumes three and four. Three has some very dark, raw and real moments. I've told stories I've never told before on volume three, a side of me I've not shown. And as for volume four I self produced, wrote, created and sang in my bedroom during a global pandemic. The fourth installment is probably the most "me" music I've ever made. There are a lot of instrumental tracks. It is my calm, my peace, my love.”

You have collaborated with so many amazing artists over the years. Which has been your favourite so far and why?

“It is hard to say my favorite, but one of the most meaningful songs that came from a collaboration is ‘Love is Alive’ with Louis The Child. That whole day was really wild because we were both such new artists and had never met. But when we got in the room the flow was flawless. We danced around and made the song in a few hours! The most magical thing about music is that you create it out of thin air and then share it through the airwaves. Trips me out! Music is medicine.”

What struggles, if any, have you faced as an artist in the music business and how have you overcome them?

“There are constant struggles in music. Being an artist is really hard on the body, soul, and mind. It's a constant challenge to keep myself healthy while managing a music career. We want so much as humans, especially as artists living in a dream world in our brains all the time, that sometimes it is hard to enjoy what is right in front of us in the moment. I have to take time and look back on all I have done and how far I have come to really enjoy the present.”

If there was one thing you could change about the music world today, what would it be?

“More emphasis on art, less emphasis on plays, likes, and views.”

100% agree! Finally, what else is next for you? I expect you're excited to get back on stage? Any non-musical goals?

“Non musical is to keep discovering myself and transforming into the best version of me.. an ongoing goal and aspiration. I am really excited to start playing shows again, collaborating, and getting to hug humans. Really looking forward to sharing a side of me I've never shared before and cannot wait to put volumes three and four into the world.”

#interview #elohim #journey to the center of myself

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