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Hi Elizabeth, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?
Busy! With the album release this Friday (4/21) and the release show the next day (4/22) it feels like there are a thousand things to do. But I’ll take that kind of busy!
Can you talk to us more about your latest single “Fade?” Did any event in particular inspire you to write this song?
“Fade” is a bit of a commentary on modern dating yet with some old-school expectations, finding the “one”. It seems in my recent experience with dating people are quick to love and also quick to fall out of love. There is this idea in the dating world that there are so many people out there so there is really no need to commit.
How was the filming process and experience behind the video?
This was my first official video so, it was definitely a learning process. I started out thinking we were going to do a completely different song and had an elaborate video idea planned with props and fighting sequences but then realized perhaps that’s too advanced for my budget! So I switched the song to “Fade” and simplified my idea so that we could actually accomplish it! I picked the costumes, did the make-up and had one great friend as an assistant and the filming was done completely by Iterate Design which was just one person filming! I realized how much planning really goes into a video and without a team of people working together it can be a huge challenge. It was very hard to get my ideas clear enough for others to understand what it was I wanted. But overall, with good editing help from Keegan Burckhard the video did come together. It was a lot of back and forth and a huge challenge but I learned a lot. I also learned that I like being on camera. I had been worried and felt shy about being filmed but once we got going it was quite exciting to be in front of the camera.
The song is off the new album, Blood Running, which is being released on April 21st. Where did the title Blood Running come from?
The term “blood running” is used in the refrain of another track on the album, “Ha,” which will be the second video (look for it in late June). A lot of the album expresses frustration, anger and a little bit of humour which all define my experience as a woman in this world. I have always felt certain expectations that I fit in this certain box, be polite, be nice, be pretty, be smart and don’t be angry, sad or express anything ugly. In relationships I have felt like I have not been seen and allowed to be my true self because it’s too aggressive. This song “Ha” shares my raw feelings during a relationship breakup. The audience is there with me in the pain and anger. Perhaps that leads to some discomfort for people but overall I hope it connects people. Some emotions we have are ugly and angry but underneath it all, there is pain and we all share that emotion and shouldn’t be ashamed to feel pain. Getting my emotions out in their purest form is very therapeutic for me and I hope others can connect with this and also feel that they can acknowledge some of their emotions and gain personal strength through that acknowledgement. My original album cover also emphasized blood running by showing blood running down my leg representing menstruation which could be seen as both powerful and also a burden.
You grew up in rural Minnesota and studied opera and musical theater in college there before heading to New York City. What role does the Midwest play in your music?
My small town of Madelia was vey supportive of me however, I still felt like an outsider. I was from a divorced family, we were not from the area around the small town like most people there and also I was bi-racial. So I felt that my experiences were not shared by many of those around me. I think this sense of not belonging is what has driven me to write because it helps me make sense of my personal experience but also through singing I did find something that I fit.
How long did you spend in New York, and what sort of impact did your time there have on you?
I was in NY for about three years. Sometimes I think I should have toughed it out and stayed longer but I did come back to the Midwest. NY totally changed the direction of my musicality. I originally went to NY to work on my dancing (learn to dance!) and take voice lessons and get a role on Broadway!! But, I soon realized that I was never going to be much of a dancer which turned me towards looking at ways I could just sing. So, I started taking guitar lessons and going to open mics and writing songs just came naturally to me. New York was the first place and one of the few times in my life where I felt like I truly belonged. It was the first time I felt pretty and the first time I felt allowed to truly explore without a set of expectations placed on me.
How was the writing and recording process for the new album compared with 2019’s self-titled EP?
The 2019 self-titled EP was before ELOUR was even really a band. I was still transitioning from my previous Americana project. I didn’t have a clear vision of what I wanted ELOUR to sound like. I just knew I needed to express myself in a different way than before. Underwood recording was very patient with me and was the start of the journey I am on. With my new album, Blood Running, I connected with Jason Shannon at Zoo School Studio. It was the first time I heard what was in my head come out onto the recording. Jason really understood what my sound was and also had a good understanding of me as a person which really helped me feel comfortable and creative. That understanding made the recording process, which has never been easy for me because I prefer live performance, much more palatable. The 10 songs were recorded over the course of a year, mostly on weekends, so I didn’t spend large chunks of time in the studio. I am a person that likes to work very intensely for a short time and take lots of breaks!
Who were some of your musical influences growing up and where do you find inspiration now?
I started out with my grandmother’s musicals and my father’s Lebanese folk music. When I began voice training, I added in art songs and classical pieces. In high school I was exposed to some of the better known bands of the 90’s mostly pop/rap like Adina Howard and SWV. I never really had much exposure to Classic Rock, Punk Rock, New Wave, and the rest of the 80’s. So when I was exposed to classic rock I was pretty amazed and also empowered by artists like Pat Benatar, Joan Jett, Blondie, Robert Plant and Mick Jagger.
Somewhat related, are there any dream collaborators you’d like to work with?
I actually have never really been a great collaborator. Or, maybe I just haven’t had the opportunity to do so or found the right match. But, I guess if I were to collaborate with someone it would likely be Dolly Parton. She seems like such a supportive person and mentor! I know our styles aren’t the same but I don’t think it would matter and I guess this is just a dream so Yea, Dolly!
The album release show is on April 22nd at Icehouse in Minneapolis, Minnesota. What can fans expect at one of your shows?
ELOUR’s tag line is, “Emotions erupt in ELOUR’s punk-edged Femme Rock, resulting in catharsis and empowerment. ELOUR features the alluring songs, vocals, and stage presence of classically trained Elizabeth Ghandour.” And that’s what you can expect! Loud and raw and in your face music. At the release show we’ll play all the songs from the album, plus a couple of new ones, and probably an older one called “Search The Ocean” that didn’t fit the album but is popular at our live shows.
What’s next for Elour and where can people go to find out more about the band?
https://elourmusic.com/ is the best place to stay on top of everything, but of course we’re also on all the streaming platforms and Bandcamp, and our shows are posted on BandsInTown as well as our web site. We have a pretty full gig schedule through the summer and into the fall, so come on out for a dose of catharsis!
https://www.elourmusic.com
UPCOMING SHOWS:
https://bnds.us/r29sky
