Way back in February last year, we wrote this post about a vocalist that had caught her ear. Ever since we’ve been trying to track her down to ask her to do a live show at The Jazz Meet. Well, this Sunday we’re happy to report that it’s finally going to happen! After a few successful spots where we’ve invited singers down to Floripa, we start our new series of ‘vocalist sessions’ this weekend with the imitable Liz Elensky fronting the Jazz Meet Band for an evening of soulful jazz music. If you’re familiar with the work of Emanative (championed by the likes of Gilles Peterson, Michael Ruetten, Ennio Styles… and us!), then you would have already come across her voice in some shape or form. If not, then please read on to discover why we’re so excited to have her perform…
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Morning Liz. To kick things off, for people who may not have come across you before, can you tell us a little bit about Liz Elensky? What sparked your interest in singing?
It probably helps that I’m from a family where my mum was a classical singer and my Dad an avid jazz lover so all us kids went to music school and spent a lot of time at the Stockholm Jazz & Blues Festival and such things. I watched many great musicians perform there. I even danced on stage with Chuck Berry. But I loved Prince when I was growing up and recorded my own homemade little version of ‘Alphabet Street’ when I was about 15, which found it’s way over to New York, by way of my stepsister, and a House producer heard it, said he loved my voice and wanted me to come over and record with him. I guess this helped encourage my little bug to do singing outside my school choir and outside my bedroom!
We’re very happy to have you performing with the Jazz Meet Band this coming Sunday at Floripa, singing some of your own material and a few standards from the jazz canon. How would you describe the music you make and ultimately your own vocal style?
I’m so happy to come and sing at The Jazz Meet! I love what you guys are creating. As a singer, I guess my basic principle would be to say something with your voice. To create a mood hopefully, rather than a technical demonstration. I’ve sung everything from Carmina Burana to folk to jazz to hip-hop. But soul with a touch of jazz is probably my most natural inclination.
A Night In Tunisia by Liz Elensky
It seems your first recorded material came about collaborating with Marc Rapson and Emanative from the Futuristica family. Can you explain how that came about?
Funnily enough, I came to London many years ago to record together with a guy I’d been working with and at the time we were managed by Jamiroquai’s managers. It’s funny to think, but then there was no internet really, and certainly no Facebook or Twitter! Must find some tracks and put them up on YouTube. I have them on tape somewhere. They were really good! Nick Van Gelder on drums, Toby Smith on keys and we got some plays on Kiss FM at the time.
But, I met Nick (Emanative) in a band 16 years ago and we’ve worked on music together ever since. For example we were part of a project called Stratospheric, that had a couple of 12″ vinyl releases that were remixed by the likes of Tokyo’s United Future Organisation and Venom (Bluey from Incognito’s son). So, when Nick started creating his Emanative album ‘Space’ for Futuristica Music, it was only natural for us to collaborate on a couple of tracks. It helps that we’re married too! And then I met Marc Rapson through the Futuristica guys and we made the track ‘Love Is All’. Marc’s a dude! He did some Rhodes for us recently on a new track that is in the pipeline.
We also hear whispers that there might be a full album in the works, produced my Mr Emanative himself. Is that correct and what can we expect. Are there any other things we should be getting excited about?
Yes! I keep whispering this to myself too! But yes, we are working on new material, both together and separately. We’re just not sure whether some of the ones we’re doing together will be Emanative tracks or Liz Elensky tracks yet. Cue a domestic. Hahaha!
Can you leave us with a song, performance or video you’re currently feeling?
I really love what Esperanza Spalding is doing. She’s real, uplifting and so talented. It’s in my car very loud every day at the moment. And yes, I sing along – always.
Interview by Rob Coley (@robcoley)
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Liz debut’s this Sunday 15th July at Floripa. DJ support comes from Jazz Meet residents Nik Weston and Jarred Rice. Come and join us for what promises to be a magical evening!