FOCUS: "YOUR OWN WORDS"- Interview to Eleanor Kelly
'Call my name' tells the story of a relationship that is being kept together by a very thin thread. It focuses on the feelings and struggles of loneliness, fear, and anxiety that are brought on by this relationship, which is obviously coming to its end, and the protagonist's willingness to fight for something that they know may be better if it ended.
INTERVIEW
P.P.
7/23/20232 min read
Hi Eleanor. Can you talk about your music project? What first inspired you to make music?
Hi! I have been playing, writing, and consuming music in every way possible since I can remember myself. MTV and VH1 (remember those days?) were my obsession growing up, also trips to the record store and listening to the radio in order to find my next great musical revelation. So music has always been a big part of me. I started this solo project almost a year ago, after a long break. I played in various bands and projects throughout the years, but when the pandemic hit and everything shut down, I found it hard to source the motivation to create. Fast forward to 2022, I finally felt ready to start writing again. I released 3 singles, have more in the works, and joined a band. Maybe the break was necessary in order to really appreciate it.
Describe your creative process when you write music.
My process changes with every song. I either start with lyrics when I feel the urge to let something out, or with a synth or guitar riff I came up with. “Call My Name” started with a couple of synth riffs. After that, I plan the sounds and tone I want for the song and keep building up from there until I feel at ease with what I have.
What is your preferred method of producing music, alone or in a team?
I like creating on my own but I recently learned the benefits of working with others. I find writing to be an intimate experience, and even though other people may not always understand what I’m trying to say in its early stages of a song, I find the outside perspective important to complete it. Sometimes you need to be shown a different path to reach the end goal you’ve been seeking.
What are some of the challenges you face as an artist?
Social media. A good social media presence seems to be almost mandatory today. Unfortunately, making that happen takes away from the time you have as an independent artist to focus on the actual music. I find myself going back and forth with this, sometimes I want to create more content and even look at it as part of the creative process. But other times, I just want to focus on writing and producing.
On Rotation: ELEANOR KELLY 'Call My Name'
What are some of your favourite songs to play live?
This solo project is pretty new, so I didn’t get to play all of the songs live yet. But I recently got to play “Daisy Chain,” and after the show, a friend sent me a video where a couple of people in the crowd were dancing and singing along. That’s definitely a favourite moment.
How do you balance creative expression with commercial appeal?
At the end of the day I think the most important thing is to be true to your own craft, and to believe in what you’re putting out there. Because if you don’t believe in it, who will?
A message to your fans.
These are going to sound like cliches, but: Always be true to yourself, follow your dreams, and most importantly - you’re never too old to make those dreams happen.
