Fiery, genuine, and unexpected. Indulging listeners into the creative mind of the songstress, prepare to be lost in a trance of futuristic beats and anthemic lyrics. Consistently serving upbeat bops we can’t help but groove to; Elohim is the ideal antidote to those inevitable 2020 blues.
Exploring what it truly means to find authenticity amid life’s chaos, Elohim’s experiences come to a crescendo with the release of her most confident projects to date. Now more than ever will listeners have the ability to understand the innermost workings of their favorite electro-pop artist. Behind every chord is a passionate meaning; are you ready to uncover the many layers of Elohim? Creating new tunes “took [her] to another planet” in the process–it’s no wonder her sound is an eruption of ethereal vocals and transcendental sensations.
Aiming to sonically build bridges, Elohim maintains the common goal of deepening the connection between herself and those behind their earbuds. If she could, she’d likely hold your hand while taking a listen to her discography. For the Los Angeles native, music is quite literally a self-described “medicine” yearning to connect with anyone willing to pay close enough attention to the smallest of details. Her records reach far beyond the top-40 spectrum by delving deep into the ideas of what it means to create a unique identity radiating positivity. She’s mystifying, eccentric, and elusive–but that’s the precise genius behind the intrigue of Elohim.
Fresh off the release of her dynamic, spirited singles, “I’m Lost” and “Good Day Bad Day,” the Los Angeles-based singer sits down with EUPHORIA. and explores the resonance of mental health, iconic tour moments, and the unprecedented facets behind her upcoming album.
Let’s start off by covering the basics: how would you describe the aesthetic you aim to communicate with the world?
I’ve always said experiential. Since the beginning, my main priority was always to give the listener the best experience, whether that’s one that they knew they needed, didn’t know they needed, or can learn something and gain something from. So the whole show, the music, the videos, I want everything to feel like a beautiful experience or a journey that the listener can go on. I feel that music lacks that a little bit at times now because there’s just so much of it coming out, and I really wanted each moment to feel like a moment and take people on this adventure or whatever you want to call it.
But also, I think that I naturally make music that is a bit alternative [or] electronic. I ended up being an electronic artist, which is really cool. I didn’t anticipate anything really–I was just making the music that I was hearing in my brain.
Totally! I know you didn’t fully expect to be an “electronic” artist, but I think part of the reason why people resonate with your music so much is the attention to detail. So how did you get to the production element of making your music? And why is it so important?
For me, it was the lack of hearing what I wanted to hear in music. I would only hear what I wanted when I would listen to an old Radiohead record or something. And that sparked my intrigue and interest because I was like, “how do they make these sounds?”
Everything else I would hear on the radio was like, ‘oh, I could imagine somebody making this.’ And I could kind of know how they did it. I can imagine them sitting in a room and making the song. But when I listen to a Radiohead album or something, my mind would kind of be blown and I’d be like, ‘how do they do this?’ I want to do that. I want to make those sounds. So for me, the only way for me to get the sounds that I wanted was to start producing and start trying things, going to the side of my brain that’s the weirdest, and just letting myself go there fully. Like I said, it took me a while to get there because that takes not giving a fuck at all. It feels like they put so many rules in music and it’s [as if] you want to stay in that lane.
I didn’t hear what I wanted to hear music and it’s almost like a challenge when you hear stuff and you’re like, ‘oh, I want to know how they made that. I want to try to make my version of that.’ It was really just curious and wanting to make music that I enjoyed.
What made you decide to release “Good Day Bad Day” as your next single? Is the idea of resilience and optimism something you want to communicate with everything going on in the world right now?
I decided to release “Good Day Bad Day” because so much of it – the meaning, the heavy lyrics juxtaposed with an upbeat track– feels so relatable right now. I found myself constantly saying out loud “tomorrow’s a new day” during this strange time. I kept hearing people reference their days as good and bad, different, and the same. Resilience and optimism are probably more important right now than they’ve ever been before in our lifetime. There is a lesson within all of this and I think we will one day understand it more. For now, we have to enjoy and celebrate the good days and learn and grow from the bad.
photo: Russell Tandy / pressAt some point, everyone has definitely been in that “funk” you touch upon in “Good Day Bad Day.” How do you get out of your head when you’re feeling anxious and overwhelmed?
First and foremost it depends on the severity of anxiety panic or depression. Sometimes we have to turn to professional help. For my less severe days, music has always been and will always be my medicine. Making music gives me life and purpose. Just yesterday, I was having a bad day and it was completely turned around after a few hours in the studio. I feel very grateful for music and creativity.
Lately, life has been very different so I’ve had to get creative. I’ve been doing a lot of home activities that I never usually get to do because I am normally on tour all year. So cooking, organizing, planting, art projects, anything to shift my thoughts has helped. Also, sometimes you have to take that time for yourself and lay on the couch eating your favorite food, watch TV, take a bath, and take care of YOU. I often say I need to recharge days and that applies to so many people I’ve met too!
After fans listen to “Good Day Bad Day” for the first time, what do you wish they walk away with? Any certain message?
I hope the listener will walk away feeling inspired, recharged, and grateful to be alive. I hope if they’re having a bad day the song turns their day into a good day and they realize it’s going to be ok because tomorrow is a new day!
“Good Day Bad Day” is the type of song anyone can listen to for an instant mood boost! What are some of your go-to songs you love when looking to improve a bad day?
One of my favorite things to do when having a bad day is to create new music! But another remedy for a bad day is definitely putting on a favorite record. Because I’m home so much right now I’ve been able to listen to a lot of vinyl which is so calming. Old jazz vinyl always brings me joy. Nothing like waking up, having a cup of coffee, and listening to an old Billie Holiday record on vinyl.
Did you have any specific inspirations behind the music video that you wanted to translate into visuals?
We wanted the imagery to be as big as the emotions and lyrics within the song. Sometimes good and bad are very clear and sometimes they’re blended together. That is one of my most difficult ideas to accept in life and its why I write and create art. At any moment anything can happen, good or bad…we won’t always be prepared but we keep going.
Being such a huge advocate for mental health, does writing about your personal struggles come easy to you when creating songs? Or is it difficult to tap into those intimate emotions?
I can tap into writing about my personal struggles pretty easily. It is my truth and I find the truth is the easiest to talk about for me. I have also been so inspired by the listeners and their own stories. I’ve been encouraged and inspired to keep writing about this because I know it is helping others and creating a community. I feel so much less alone because of the relationships that I’ve found through the music I’ve written.
That’s amazing–I’m sure artists can get wrapped up in charts or fitting into a certain sound. But like you mentioned before, getting into the side of your brain that’s the “weirdest” truly represents the most authentic version of you. I think that’s such a cool, pure thing to share in music.
And it’s hard. It is hard. A lot of people I’ve known go through that–where you signed to a label and then they’re putting you in sessions with random people you’ve never met. And sometimes it will work and it will be this magical moment. But it’s few and far between, honestly, because a lot of times you walk and it’s like, ‘OK, let’s write a hit song,’ which is great. Like, I’m going to be awesome. I would like that too. But I don’t like going into a situation like that. I’m like, ‘let’s make something beautiful and magical that makes us actually feel something.’
Absolutely. I feel like that’s a huge reason why music so important in storytelling. Speaking of authenticity, what is the ultimate way to listen to an Elohim record that resonates with you?
Oh my gosh, so many different ways! With “I’m Lost,” because there’s so many different emotions, every time I hear it, it makes me feel something different. So, I love the picture of somebody laying on the couch on their back. No pillows, just hands on your chest or hands by your side, just like you’re floating away or meditating. Laying flat on your back with headphones on, eyes closed and almost meditating through the listening of the song. Letting the song tell you what you need from it.
When I watched the video, I totally would relate it to a word like meditation! Looking at the visuals, they’re what I would almost “see” in my brain if I was to meditate. It’s so striking!
Beautiful! Yes, that’s what I was hoping for! And so for that one, I think you could definitely just lay on your back, or you could be driving, or you could be dancing in your house. It makes me want to dance. And I love music like that. It’s like a friend. Whatever mood you’re in or whatever you’re going through, it’s like these friends that you can call on. They’re for you. I think “I’m Lost” in particular could go [multiple] ways. It could be for going through a weird time or it could be [for when] you want to feel good and just dance and let go and be free as well.
I think it’s really admirable that you talk about more serious topics like mental health in your music. But as you said, the tracks totally make you want to dance it out! It’s like a Taylor Swift “Shake it Off” type of vibe. So, does that come naturally to you? Taking serious topics and making them almost “upbeat” in a way?
Yes, because for me, it is a very serious thing. I’m actually bothered memes or something [like that] about having a panic attack. It bothers me because having a panic attack is the worst thing ever and I never want anyone to go through it. But making music that’s honestly, and in a very real way, talking about this topic and what I personally have gone through is actually making you feel a little bit better while you’re listening to it. To me, it’s like therapy. Music, I think, is medicine.
Instead of having to take your Xanax at night, because you’re feeling like you’re going to have a panic attack, you turn to the song instead and put on headphones. It gives you that release that maybe you needed from your medication, but you’re able to not take it. That, for me, always a nice step in the right direction in trying to find alternatives. Of course, there are times where nothing is going to get you out of it. But, I think so many times music has helped me personally. When I have a panic attack, I want to put on something that understands me but also lifts me, inspires me, and encourages me that I’m OK. I’m not alone and I’m going to get through this. Music is so amazing and so, so crazy with what it can do to the human brain.
I love the idea of that of what you just said. I feel like when people are sad, they notoriously have a sad playlist on Spotify or Apple Music. It’s just all sad songs to cry to. I love the concept of putting on something that’s going to lift your spirit.
And I’ve had a lot of people say, “I’m going into surgery or, you know, having a baby or I’m going through a panic attack and I put on your music and it got me out of the panic.” And that’s why I literally make music.
photo: Chase O’Black / pressThinking about “I’m Lost” as a whole, what do you want fans to get out of it? Is there a feeling you’d wish they walk away with once they finish the song and video?
I feel that I want people to get whatever they needed, or whatever they didn’t know that they needed, from the music. Any time you put out new music, it brings new listeners and new eyes. It’s really cool to see it through like a new listener’s eyes and ears and see how they interpret it. And the messages I get, it’s always crazy to me because there’s a lot more depth to it.
That’s truly one of the major beauties of music. It’s such a universal language–you can really translate whatever you want to say with sound. I think that’s so amazing to be able to “communicate” through music. It’s such a special skill.
Or you don’t even speak the same language and you still feel that feeling because of the chords and the notes and the sounds. Or you’re transported back to a time. It’s so crazy when you hear a song from your child or something and you can literally smell and taste it.
Will your album then discuss similar themes of self-exploration? Or would you say we are going to hear a completely new side of you than what’s heard on the “I’m Lost” single?
Definitely [a new side]. I mean, this was just the best, most freeing moment of making music for me. There are those moments of a more alternative feeling or a more pop feeling. There were no rules making this album. It was just, ‘I want to feel great making it,’ and hopefully the listener will feel great listening to it.
With the world in its current state, you, unfortunately, had “The Group Therapy Tour” canceled midway through. Taking a moment to reminisce on the days of live music, do you have a most memorable gig or moment you experienced on the road?
Actually, now I think we’re romanticizing everything! The things we’d complain about, now we romanticize like, ‘I’d love to go back to that moment.”
There were so many beautiful moments on that tour because there was just so much heart and love and soul. There was a moment in D.C. where a friend in the meet and greet wanted to talk on the microphone. I gave him that opportunity, and it was the first time he came out as transgender. We were all crying, and it was so beautiful. That was such a beautiful moment.
I just feel honored to be able to sort of give that opportunity and say, yeah, ‘that was a really special moment, actually.’
That’s a really amazing story to be able to share with the world and carry with you. Having had so many meaningful experiences in your career thus far, how do you feel you’ve grown as an artist?
I feel blessed. I feel very lucky. I feel honored to have helped people in any way that I can. I didn’t anticipate [my career] going in the way that it did, but I quickly realized there is a world out there of people who are struggling and suffering from their mental health. It’s a very real thing.
And for me, I’ve grown since I put on my first song. I couldn’t leave my hotel without vomiting and having these panic fits and. Now being this strong woman, I feel like I can be a really great inspiration or influence. I just feel truly honored and blessed to be able to help anyone in any way that I can. And through music is such a beautiful thing.