INTERVIEW: ELEO

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Hi ELEO, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?

Hello VENTS! I’m great! Finished shooting three music videos earlier this summer so just doing a lot of the post productions and I’m super excited to release my debut music video for “Use Me”!

Can you talk to us more about “Use Me”?

Yes! I wrote Use Me about a year ago.  Some people think the song is sexual and submissive which I can see why, but the song is really about when you’re at a vulnerable place in your life, and you are desperately in love with someone; you willingly let them use you and walk all over you but you are still imagining the love that was never there. No matter if they were using you for money, opportunities, love or just attention; you are just not strong enough to let go.  In a way they don’t even have to be a person, it could also be alcohol, drugs or any toxic things we let in our lives that we are not strong enough to cut it out.

Did any event in particular inspire you to write this song?

Yeah I was at a vulnerable place in my life few years ago. After going through a depression I was grabbing onto anything that could make me feel better, and I turned to alcohol, sex and bad relationships.  But I ended up even more broken by all these things. I got into a desperate relationship for a short few months then and when I was in the studio last year all I could think about was that relationship and that period of my life.  So creating this song is very therapeutic and in fact it’s like a reminder to never let myself into that kind of toxic situation again. “Use Me” is talking about how I like being used in that moment but in a way it inspires me the opposite strength to become a stronger person.

How was the filming process and experience behind the video?

This video took quite a long time. I had so many visions and ideas. Visuals are so important in my artistry, so after going back and forth of so many concepts we decided to tell the story in a simple, beautiful and classy way. Also it being my debut music video, we want the audience to focus on the story and my voice. The whole team is so talented and amazing but I have to praise my director Shu Zhu and my DP Ino Popper. They have the best taste and we worked so hard to put the pieces together and I could not ask for better result. We have another music video on the way for my song “Fly Away”, I just saw the first cut and it’s insane!

How was the recording and writing process?

Writing this song was a reminiscing experience. I had to put myself back to where I was and bring back a lot of the emotions I blocked away, but once I was in that place, words and melodies just flowed organically.  I wrote the song with my friend Jimmy Burney who is so amazing and has written for Demi Lovato and many successful artists.  We just had a great time working together. I knew for my EP I wanted a song that was guitar riff driven, for me this song just felt so right and my friend/producer John Ho did an amazing job helping me making it happen.  He actually recorded and mixed this whole EP for me, and he taught me so much in the recording process. We tried different sides of my voice and end up choosing this very breathy tone and it turned out more than how I have imagined. Also I love vocal producing the background vocals. I love to stack up the harmonies, they give the song so many layers and they make the song vivid and 3D.

What role does LA play in your music?

LA it’s like a creative playground.  I’ve traveled across the world and there’s no place like LA when it comes to creative energy.  From people walking on the street holding cameras vlogging to big producers in the fancy studios, we all are here to hustle and to create. I’ve met a lot of great people in this city and I’ve learned so much about creative writing, poetry, producing, filming, styling, photography and I’m still learning everyday.  I create the music and videos I have today because of what these people have taught me so yeah, I love LA and I can’t thank this city enough.

How has your upbringing influenced your writing?

Both of my parents are opera singers so classical music for sure rubbed off on me. So now when I produce, I love a good piano riff or a strings intro.  And because of the opera influence, strong vocals were everything to me when it comes to music, so hitting notes and the powerhouse singing runs in my blood. Then moving to Florida and becoming a teenager, all my friends and I listened to were hip-hop or R&B.  I remember we would all get in the car, roll down the windows and pick the songs with the sickest bassline and that impacts me to use a certain bass or adding 808 in my music.  Opera and hip-hop are almost the complete opposite, and when I write and produce I just want to bring the two styles together. 

Does the new video mean we can expect new material – how’s that coming along?

I have three music videos, two behind the scenes videos and a few live acoustic performances coming out this fall. Also, I have an unreleased upbeat song that I just shot a video for in Japan called “Soldier Mind”. It’s for sure my favorite song, it’s pop, it’s hip-hop, it’s reggae and the energy is super fierce; definitely the beginning of something new for me.  I never stop writing so I have a lot of ideas that I’ve written and I can’t wait to go into the studio soon.

Any tentative release date or title in mind?

I’m super busy with all the videos that’s coming up in the next few months. So for right now after the music video for “Use Me” we have some behind the scenes footage and an acoustic video that’s coming up in the next few weeks.  My next official music video is “Fly Away”, which is in post-production right now.  We don’t have a specific date yet but that’s coming this fall.

Any plans to hit the road?

At the moment I’m focusing on creating new music and content and getting more people to know me as an artist. In the future I will definitely be going on tours.  Performing live is my biggest passion, watching award show performances when I was young is what got me into pursuing music, so when I’m ready I want to really entertain and put on a show for my fans.

What else is happening next in ELEO’s world?

I have all the videos and new music coming up that I need to focus on and of course nonstop writing new music.  Also outside of music I’m a business owner an entrepreneur so yeah a lot of chasing dreams chasing money and chasing love!