Swiss indie singer elie zoé has released their new single, Change My Name. We asked the BIG questions . . .
Elie has been compared to PJ Harvey and Cat Power and has won several prizes, such as Best Act Romandie at the Swiss Music Awards 2019, Swiss Music Prize 2020.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I like looking for beauty in small details. One could say I'm a curious and hopeful nearsighted person.
I would love to be an astrophysicist, a syntropic farmer, and also run a restaurant that cooks with wild plants from the region, all at the same time. Since I don’t have enough time to learn all these trades, I write songs that intuitively answer the philosophical questions I ask myself.
I have several guitars on stage because nearly every song I write has a different tuning. The songwriting process itself determines the guitar tuning, and none of them are conventional. But since I don't know music theory, I don't know what notes I'm playing, so it works fine for me.
How would you describe your music?
Raw, deep, melodic. Pop songs with rock instrumentation.
Who are your musical inspirations?
I really love duos (I perform as a duo on stage). I enjoy filling the entire sonic space and creating big dynamics with just a few elements. I’ve listened to Two Gallants a lot. Also, I like David Bazan’s approach to songwriting, and Girls In Hawaii’s vocal harmonies.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
A choir my father sang in. I was deeply moved by the way the voices blended together and the power they created. Now, I regularly invite amateur choirs to sing with us on stage.
What was the first record you ever bought?
The best-of album by a French singer called Francis Cabrel. I love how he develops his songs by subtly changing the choruses throughout them.
What’s your favourite song right now?
Parallels by Big Thief.
Favourite lyric of all time?
I’m hesitating between Our Love is Growing by Franz Treichler in /A\ and the last verses of God Bless Our Dead Marines by A Silver Mt. Zion: When the world is sick, Can't no one be well?, But I dreamt we was all beautiful and strong »
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
The songbirds sing at daybreak.
Where can people find your music/more information?
Website, Bandcamp, Instagram - @eliezoemusic, Spotify, Facebook, Bands in Town or by subscribing to my newsletter.
Alan Corr
