Once a constant on the Los Angeles music scene, ellee ven has moved east to spread her Groovalution and encourage people to participate in Give Into the Groove, a non-profit that raises awareness of local charities and encourages everyone to become involved in philanthropy.
Ellee ven calls her music “groovetonic,” which she explains is non-genre specific music that makes you move. But what is a “Groovalution?” Read on and you will discover the answer within the interview we had with this amazing artist and activist.
IVB: How long have you been performing?
EV: About 12 years. I was a school teacher, married and divorced and moved into Apartment 1111. I felt that the numbers 11-11 were a sign from the universe that I needed to do something different, and my heart kept coming back to music. My first gig was a group of Prince dancers that wanted a voice to add to their music. From that point on, I was hooked. I didn’t know if I could write my own songs, but I kept receiving music from friends and friends of friends that I would then remix and add my creative insights.
IVB: Who are your influences?
EV: Sade is my #1 favorite because she is so unique and her arrangements are very special. I think that she is loyal to her band members and works with them to create heartfelt authentic music. She is a true lady who doesn’t grind but dances elegantly. I also like Nine Inch Nails, Portishead and Cher – my tastes are all over the board.
IVB: So, what is a groovalution?
EV: A Groovalution is a creative revolution, composed of a group of groovalutionaries, which are the individual people engaged in creative revolution. There is a groovalutionary within us all. I think you will see that all of my projects are truly connected. I want to demonstrate that it’s not just music but all parts of our lives that provide balance. Everybody has a talent and needs an outlet that allows them to contribute to the overall balance. I specifically want to thank my parents for being the role models that enabled me to take my talent and share it with the world.
IVB: What made you decide to DIY?
EV: A couple of reasons. First off, I didn’t know I could get someone else to do it for me or would pay me to do it. My family was always a creative force for me, and believed that it was a personal choice to visualize your own artistic endeavor. Who better to do it than the one with the vision? As I moved along my career, I realized that this is the way to do it. I can do it my own way with full artistic freedom. Very grateful that I can redo my entire catalog if I want to and am responsible for creating content that moves my fans. I’ve gotten better at marketing but wouldn’t mind getting the machine behind me to further my reach.
IVB: Are you seeking to be a mainstream artist?
EV: Not really. I don’t care enough about being mainstream that I would sacrifice my own artistic vision. I don’t want to have to dress a certain way, or have a certain look to fit in. I understand their reasons for wanted to package artists in a certain way, but I want mine to be unique. There is too much music today that seems to be copies of what’s already there so that they sound the same. I don’t believe that music can be authentic that way.
IVB: What are your future plans?
EV: I recently spent some time in Southeast Asia and want to continue that. I want to make my music available to more and more people and have spent a lot of time improving my YouTube channel. Love my new video for Underwater.
I am planning to do a webcast at Kulak’s Woodshed in Los Angeles on November 9, which will be part of my annual 11-11 party. I have a large collection of fans from around the world who will be able to tune in and see me perform. Since I can’t take my whole band to places like Bali, this is a way for me to meet my fans digitally.
Give into the Groove in Lexington is another event that I have been involved with, but am taking this year off for personal reasons. We have so much going on with my band right now that has taken priority and besides, I need a breather!
IVB: Any good stories from touring/recording/performing?
EV: I recently did a show in LA that brought together some of the people I worked with a decade ago. Getting the chance to talk to you (IVB) today is also special since it has been a while since we connected. I really love the community that this music has grown, and that’s the reason why I can’t stop doing what I’m doing.
IVB: What social media platforms do you use?