AN UPDATED INTERVIEW WITH
ELLIE DANIEL
January 2024
Describe your creative process! Is your music made in a more organized, blocked out manner or is it more on the go/improvisational? How do you see the process shine through in the finished product?
My creative process differs with each song. I tend to either have an idea that i want to pursue or ill come up with one on the spot. My notes app is my friend when i don't know what to make. Some of my favorite songs have been ideas I wrote down.
You recently released Nightlife; an album about just that! -
tell me about the process of creation, what is the story/main themes? What message(s) did you want to come across?
The process for this album was VERY tedious. I wanted to make an album with lore. Different characters in each song. It almost feels like SNL, like it has the same actors but different stories. I wanted to make the main themes of things that happen at night. Greed, lust, sex, murder, thievery, drug abuse and overdose, drinking habits, clubbing, all of these things that pull the album together. I wanted to bring awareness as well as paint an image of glorifying bad things or even discussing things that are hard to talk about
Is this album from a more personal experience or from an outside perspective? (personal abstract? Outside perspective made to feel personal?)
I would like to think its a little bit of both. I would say about half are about me and half are from other perspectives with the basis of things that happened to me or extremely over exaggerated versions
What is your current big goal? What does the future hold/what are you working towards right now?
Im working on my education, finding myself and just slaying overall!
You recently moved states! Any observations on how your environment affects your creative outlooks? Is your way of thinking/creating different now that you’re in a new space?
It sounds so cheesy but I genuinely feel like I'm in a movie. Everything from fashion, art, my music, is being so influenced by what i see hear feel i am in a very spiritual place right now with myself
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How do you deal with creative block as a musician/artist? How do you continue to come up with new sounds/ideas?
I feel like for me I just kinda force myself to keep writing. I try not to give up or lose hope. Usually in those block eras i make my best songs right after so i'm just patient.
What approach do you take with your music? - I see some of your albums follow characters and storylines, I want to know more about why! (What does your writing process look like when making music in this fashion?)
I could talk about this for hours. Having very specific ideas for albums makes it so much more fun for me. Having characters that feel different from me but are also me makes an album so exciting. I want to bring the listener in and make them understand a plot. Also tying an aesthetic to different albums with colors and fashion is a huge part of my synesthesia and it also differentiates each era so well for me. im always changing so why cant my music change too.
What is your current big goal? What does the future hold/what are you working towards right now?
My big goal is to perform! I have so much opportunity for shows now and i am very excited to pursue my music and art further.
AN UPDATED INTERVIEW WITH
ELLIE DANIEL
Spring 2023
Describe the creative process of Paul!
creating paul was truly a therapy session for me. i started to work on that project
halfway through my first album. i made 2 albums and an ep while working on
paul and paul was me discussing mostly past feelings while the other projects felt
current. it was so fun to put new perspectives and write so literally and poetically.
releasing it was one of the hardest things because it felt like the inner working of
my younger self almost being exploited. It also felt like setting photos of an ex on
fire tho. i felt free.
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How do you feel your sound has changed since we last talked (winter 2022)?
literally so much. recently i’ve been working more experimentally with melodies
and writing. i have some true to me songs of course but paul was so pop that i
needed some different energy.
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Whats been your favorite moment/biggest achievement as a musician
so far?
the support from the internet. i've had people literally THANK ME for songs ive
made. i believe i said something similar to this last time but it is still relevant.
relation is what pushed me to release music. having people feel heard from my
words is truly all i could ask.
Is there anything currently in the making? (songs, albums, tour, etc.)
hehehehe. i am working on my next album and am almost done. putting final
touches. this album is dark and twisted and discusses MAJOR topics like drug
abuse, christianity, corrupt politicians, feeling controlled, abuse and cheating. it is
wrapped in dance and all brought into a singular concept. my insta always
matches my next album aesthetic so check it out if you want to see.
What would you say to yourself when you just started out as a musician?
What piece of advice do you wish you knew back then?
i would tell myself to not be afraid to not please. i tried to make music that
everyone wanted to hear and i love it but i think i could’ve done some things
different. i wish i knew that i was gonna make so much. i felt so stuck while
making my first album and never knew what was next so figuring out what was
next was such a big accomplishment then and now.
AN INTERVIEW WITH
ELLIE DANIEL
Summer 2022
Who/what inspires your music?
Growing up I listened to so many genres of music and was constantly inspired by rock, folk, and even pop throughout my childhood. However, although it is selfish, I think I find more inspiration in myself and my stories! Song writing has always been a way for me to tell my stories and process my emotions so putting those emotions into beautiful things has always been the most inspirational.
How would you describe your sound?
Alternative but either cry in the club or on my guitar
If you had no choice but to become a cover artist, who would you cover?
ISAAC DUNBAR OMFG. literally a mastermind
What is the hardest part about being a musician?
Releasing music! It's so hard to release new stuff and see what people think and how they feel. I love to adapt and have themes to projects so it is always nerve racking to try something new.
What is your end goal?
For at least one person to relate to my lyrics and feel something when they do.