Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: I began my journey behind the piano at the age of four. After competing in several national piano competitions with classical pieces, I discovered a deep love for singing. Since the age of 12, I have been taking classical singing lessons and participating in classical singing competitions as a contralto.
Deep in my heart, I always knew that music held a greater purpose for me—one that extended beyond the classical world. Since the age of nine, I have been writing poetry, refining my craft by putting pen to paper every day. My passion for storytelling truly came to life when I wrote a novel at 17 as part of an honors program in high school.
A few years later, everything changed when I saw Lana Del Rey perform live. That night, something within me shifted—I knew, without a doubt, that this was what I was meant to do. There was no going back, no logical explanation—just an undeniable calling to pursue singer-songwriting with everything I had.
Q: How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world? What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover “Elena Jolie”?
A: TikTok is very helpful with spreading music outside of your own country. However, I see that the most impact my music has on people, is when I sing it live. You can really see in real time that people become your fans. It’s really incredible actually. I think the best way to experience Elena Jolie, is to see her live: her soulpiercing lyrics will cut right through your soul.
Q: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A: Musically, my biggest inspiration will always be Lana Del Rey. What she does with her music transcends eras and I can only dream of making such transcendental music. Ambition wise, I really respect the work and dedication of Chappell Roan and Doechii. Incredibly talented women who have worked their butts off to get where they want to be. They dedication over the years have inspired me to work as hard as I can to achieve my dreams.
Q: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the song, “Withdrawal Symptoms.”?
A: A Dutch poet from the 19th century wrote a poem called ´´I am a God in the deepest of my thoughts´´. I was so starstruck by that sentence, it stayed for me for years. I always knew I wanted to do something with it. When I started to actively engage with songwriting, I wanted to write about an abusive relationship I was in when I was a bit younger. I thought to myself: well, if I want to use this lyric, I should use it now. A perfect line to go with a song about a narcissist.
Q: How would you describe your sound in one word for potential listeners?
A: A fan said on TikTok: ‘angelic, but in an authorative cathedral way’, and I thought that was pretty accurate haha! I like to play around with my voice, especially during live performances, so I bring a combination of pop and opera vocals.
Q: Did you face any challenges while writing or recording “Withdrawal Symptoms”?
A: In the studio I discovered that my music is very arythmic, since the accompaniment follows the lyrics (instead of the other way around). We had to really stick to one bpm for this one, so for me personally, the challenge was looking for a fitting bpm.
Q: What is the message of your music? And what are your goals as an artist?
A: Empowerment through vulnerability. My music is very rooted in psychology, focussing on codependency, depression and grief. Since my father died when I was 12, this has always been a theme in my life. I hope my music to be a soothing antidote for the pain of whatever type of grief you’re going through. I hope that people will be able to immerse in my music like in a movie.
Q: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A: I mean, Lana Del Rey, obviously. I would love to write a good glam rock song with Freddy Mercury too.
Q: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A: Engage with the real life community. I know it´s tempting to chase virality, and I still do think video clips are important as eye/catchers and for storytelling, but the connections will follow from going to open mics, engaging with the community and building an audience that way. Social media has really skewed our view on the music industry: a fan base is build slowly and steadily, your first fans will be other musicians, industry professionals and people with the niche interest ”new music”.
Q: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
A: Your intuition is always right. Trust it, and don’t let anyone call you crazy for feeling deeply.
