Elyse Jewel Interview by Celeste Lim Photographer: @swayslife
Meet Elyse Jewel, an emerging pop singer/songwriter whose passion for music began when she was a little kid putting on shows for her parents. After getting serious about building a career, she went on to perform in a variety of venues in the Dallas area, and toured with Kristin Chenoweth. With Jewel’s undeniable energy – both on and off stage – it doesn’t seem like she’s stopping any time soon. The teen star talked with Nyota about songwriting, social media, and keeping busy in 2020.
When did a singing career become of interest to you? Singing has always been a passion of mine and I feel like I kind of always knew it was what I wanted to do. I had grown up around music and I even remember putting on concerts for my parents in my living room. I used to jump up on my bed and scream Taylor Swift and Katy Perry songs, pretending I was them. Congratulations on being selected as a winner in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest! Walk me through your songwriting process. What’s your favorite aspect? Thank you so much. The contest was such an amazing experience! I usually start off with an idea or melody and start writing out phrases that work with it. When I write with others, we usually start with music and a feeling and go from there! My favorite aspect of writing would have to be just being able to open up and write my feelings. Each song is almost like a diary entry and after I finish one I just feel so much better.
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Your first single, “Thinking About You” is a sweet, pop anthem that is undeniably catchy. What was your inspiration behind the song? I wrote this song about a boy I had a huge crush on! I would talk to him almost every day and just hoped that he’d think about me the same way I thought about him. I’m a huge daydreamer, so “Thinking About You” is all about my crush and what I hoped would happen. It seems like you’re very active on social media. What role do platforms such as Instagram play in your music career? Social media allows me to connect with so many people around the world. It allows me to get my messages and songs across to people who may need to hear them. I promote positivity and self love, and through my songs I try to always let people know that they aren’t alone in any situation. Social media gives me another place to spread my music and connect with people.
2020 has been a strange year, to say the least. What have you been up to recently? I’ve been working on more original songs to release!! I have a lot in the producing stage right now, so make sure to keep an eye out! I’ve also been attempting to learn how to bake and skateboard. I still haven’t learned a trick yet, but we’re getting there. At the age of 15, you have already performed at impressive venues and written songs with talented individuals in the industry. What has been the most valuable experience for you thus far? I think every experience I’ve had has really been so eye-opening and so valuable. I was able to write and produce with amazing people and they’ve all helped me along my path. I was also able to perform with Kristin Chenoweth during her tour last fall, and I learned about so many things that go into concerts and shows. Each year, the music studio I go to (Pogue Entertainment) puts on a showcase, and every year we try to make it bigger and better. This year, we had a virtual livestream
