At first glance you may dismiss this artist as another talent in the ever-expanding musical family. Yet, Elderbrook, UK born electronic artist has a unique edge which is clearly vocalized in his new single Closer. I had the chance to catch up with the calm-young talent, while he was on holiday in Paris. Gearing up for his mega tour and breaking down with me the creative inspiration behind his sound, left me highly intrigued. I have a feeling you will feel the same way!
Mm: I love that you are heavily influence by Jazz. I am a huge Jazz fan myself, I grew up to jazz via my parents. I was intrigued that, that is a big part of your influences. Do you still stop and take time to enjoy jazz no? If so who?
EB: To be honest now, I drift more towards gospel. Like, old gospel music.
Mm: Oh yeah! Like who?
EB: People like Sam Cooke and The Soul Stirrers. The Harmonizing Four, Swan Silvertones. Basically, I drift towards things that are vocal harmony based.
Mm: That kind of makes sense in your sound.
EB: Yeah, I try and copy them as much as I can. But, I don’t think it quite ends up sounding the exact same.
Mm: Well you do pretty darn good! Speaking of that harmony and vocals. In your song closer which is your new single, I really like it. I actually love it. I was listening to it and at 2:44 into the song Closer this melodic (not sure the correct term) drop happens and then you pick it back up. I love that drop, I feel like it could be a remix within itself. What was the thought process behind that drop? I love it!
EB: The thought process was, I just do it until it sound right— if you know what I mean. I guess in that particular bit, I just left it hanging longer than you’d expect it to so it makes it more open, for when it comes back in.
Mm: Is that just a matter of feeling it out? That is creativity at its best in my opinion.
EB: That’s some of my process really. You have to let it happen through you in a way. I’m trying not to sound too pretentious. You just kind of have to switch off and let it do its thing around you.
Mm: Yea, I think having the opportunity to speak with a lot of artist and even when I am having these interviews, I don’t really stick to a script. I try to let it be, what its going to be.
EB: So, its definitely a similar thing then.
Mm: I’m always curious as too how much do you let go and how much do you reign it in so to speak.
EB: So for example with all of the backing vocals with all of my tracks but especially this one. I kind of do them when the song is finished and so it is just doing things completely on the spot. Like, I sit there with the microphone and as soon as something comes into my head I just record it and get it out a few times. That’s why they kind of delve in and out of each other a few times.
Mm: When you did the cover for Justin Beiber’s song sorry which I thought was so clever. How do you take a song that’s been done and is its own living thing and recreate it to be something else that’s another amazing living thing without getting the two creative ideologies blended?
EB: With the verse in that one. I mainly just took the vocal and kind of halved each line of the original song to make it a completely different kind of vibe. Obviously, I kept the melody [hums melody] that is the main bit of the song.
Mm: What I find really interesting about what you did with that song is the lyrics are much more apparent to me now. I was listening to it thinking, “oh that is what he is saying and meaning by that”.
EB: That’s interesting.
Mm: It’s almost as though something has been pulled off of them and I am able to see them so-to-speak.
EB: I did kind of change the lyrics, which is a bit weird because a lot of covers people generally won’t change the lyrics. I kept the same sentiment for each line. It was just putting my own little linguistical spin on it.
Mm: You did good, you did really good. Also you’re going on tour which is awesome. How did the collaboration with Gorgon City and Hayden James come into place?
EB: It was originally a song I wrote that was extremely different. It was a lot slower, it was actually a little bit rocky. Then Gorgon City heard that through my label cause obviously Black Butter was the same label and I’m still published by them. They heard it and then they put a little spin on it and I guess we took it from there sending ideas back and forth until we eventually had what we ended up with.
Mm: Is there a collaboration that you have yet to do but have your eye on that prize?
EB: Honestly, I don’t have a particular one that I would love to do. I’m quite happy to work with anyone because I do believe that no matter who you work with, everyone will bring something to the table — that you just can’t. And, although I love working by myself---working with other people doesn’t always work. But... there’s some things that you end up with that are just amazing.
Mm: I agree, because you referenced gospel earlier in our conversation. Could you see yourself doing a sort of gospel collaboration?
EB: I don’t know because the gospel music I listen to is about 70 years old.
Mm: Hahaha!
EB: Haha, so I don’t know if those guys would still be up for it.
Mm: That would be cool if you could still do a collaboration no matter what.
EB: I know, I know… I think my dream collaboration would have been Sam Cooke.
Mm: I love that you are also very young and immensely talented. I feel like you’re already doing so much. You know that phrase, “ Sky is the limit” What would the moon be like for you— what would that entail?
EB: That’s a very good question, I think after maybe another release, I’m ready for an album. That’s the only really thing I’m thinking about at the moment. I don’t really mind what happens. I’ve got a lot of music that I’m ready to put into album form and that’s the next thing I’ll be looking towards. I’ll be quite happy if that’s all I’ll ever do!
Mm: I think we’re ready for you!
EB: I hope so.
Mm: You’re song Go it transports me. I feel like — I go somewhere when I listen to it.
EB: It’s quite an intense song that explodes.
Mm: It’s a good intense. When you’re doing your own songs whether it be Closer or Go and even a cover. Do you yourself “go” somewhere. What is going through you?
EB: The closest things I can think of is — if I’m making a song and its getting really hyped up and fast + intense. I just find myself standing and jumping around without really noticing or like hunched over the computer doing weird stuff. I just lock in and like I said before it kind of makes itself. I feel like I am not really doing anything although obviously — I am. I kind of like lose myself and then I realize its 5 hours later and I haven’t eaten.
Mm: I love hearing that and hearing people getting lost within their passion. It was such a pleasure speaking with you.
EB: Thank you for speaking with me as well.
Get the latest from Elderbrook
New single SMILE - With Gorgon City
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