PRETTY EVIL:
An Interview with Ellise
Welcome to the dark-pop universe of Ellise. The Iraqi-American artist grew up making music, becoming renowned for the haunting vulnerability and distinct cinematic quality of her artistry. Over the years, her journey has been molded by personal battles with mental health struggles that have perfected her ability to portray raw and earnest emotional depth eloquently through her music.
For Ellise, the process of songwriting is a healing one, starting a piece when the emotions are very raw and then working through them as the song develops. By the time the song has been released, that chapter is generally closed.
This was no exception for the songs on PRETTTY EVIL, which blossomed as she was healing from a rough chapter (carving out a message to cheaters: we’re only pretty evil because you made us this way).
Ellise is full of duality; living in the dichotomy of dark and light, smooth and edge, pretty and evil. A doe-eyed sweetheart adorned in all black, contrasting her pink painted bedroom.
Now, with her upcoming PRETTY EVIL tour, Ellise is finally in the drivers seat of her own creation, connecting with fans all over the US.
Moody sat down with the artist to discuss her debut solo tour, authenticity, and self-love, read the full interview below.
JB: What has your self-love journey looked like? How has it evolved through the years?
ELLISE: Oh God, I wish I could hug my teenage self. I grew up extremely insecure, hiding so many parts of myself. There were times that I couldn’t look too hard in the mirror without a deep feeling of dread forming. I’m so much more confident now, and have learned to love parts of myself or certain features that I used to store away.
I’m definitely not perfect, and I still feel insecurity as we all do, but I’ve become much better. For me, the solution was really just growing up, and realizing that hating myself was not going to do me any good. It takes a lot of work to come out of that headspace, but I’m happy to say I’ve been going in the right direction.
JB: Your artistry, both lyrically and visually, is authentically true to you. Is there one specific experience that stands out on your journey to be the Ellise you are today?
ELLISE: The creation of my first Halloween themed EP, Can You Keep A Secret?, was when I truly felt myself step into the Ellise I am today as an artist. While making that project, which I began through nothing but a love for all things Halloween and dark sounding pop music, I really found myself musically. I had so many “ah ha” moments while writing it, while recording it. I think that EP performed well because the purest form of an artist finding their sound exists on it, and even if people don't realize that's why they like it, I like to believe it translates.
JB: How has songwriting been an outlet for emotional transparency in your life?
ELLISE: In the songwriting process, there is nothing but putting it all out there, leaving it all on the table - that is the place where vulnerability brews. Listeners can tell when artists are not being authentic, and especially in our generation now with social media, authenticity has never been more important.
You get over the hump of being “cringe” and start living life for yourself.
JB: What other art forms inspire you beyond music? Who in these spaces?
ELLISE: I was a huge reader growing up. I loved Stephen King, James Patterson, and other horror/mystery writers. I attribute my songwriting style to how much fictional reading I did in my childhood and teenage years. I also feel that visual art, like movies and photo shoot or music video references inspire me so much. I love making music videos and creating worlds around my songs, and many of my favorite movies have heavily inspired my own visuals.
ELLISE: I want whoever listens to PRETTY EVIL to feel the cycle of love and loss– and know that it's possible to overcome it. The album is truly the internal battle in my head that I was experiencing while going through that process in real time. I couldn't make up my mind. I didn’t know what I wanted, but I knew what I needed. I hope listeners can feel the journey and relate to it themselves.
JB: What might surprise others about your romantic life?
ELLISE: I write a lot of songs about being a “man-eater”, and someone who is extremely confident. People might not realize that I’m really quite sensitive, I get my feelings easily hurt. My music amplifies the part of me that I wish I could embody constantly, but often don't. I’m a softie, basically hahaha.
ELLISE: I feel the sexiest when I’m happy and in my element! If I’m wearing an outfit that I feel confident in, have a good hair day, and get to go on stage or go to set, I feel so amazing. I love fashion and glam so much, so getting to play around with it while doing things I love like performing makes me feel like the best version of myself.
JB: What gets you in the mood?
ELLISE: Anything super overly romantic! Normalize being obsessed with your person and making them feel beautiful and loved!!! Acts of thoughtfulness, no matter how big or small, are super important to me. I have to be emotionally connected to someone to get in the mood, and showing they remember things about me and care definitely speaks to that!
For more Ellise, head to a PRETTY EVIL tour-date in your city! See you there xoxo