Love Feels Right Interview by The Heat Seekers
Elysé is a singer-songwriter and guitarist known for her low, sultry voice, and her soulful lead guitar licks. She has displayed her talents through television appearances, nightclubs private parties, publications, tours, and in the recording studio. She has performed and recorded with notable, actor/musician Gary Farmer (Reservation Dogs, Pow Wow, Highway, Dead Man, Smoke Signals), Jabbo Stokes (Jabbo Stokes & the Jive Rockets; Tommy Shaw’s first band before STYX), Mike Turner (Mike and the Micros), Mark Elmore (Smokey Creek, opening band for the Oakridge Boys, Stadler Brothers), Danny Yates (former lead guitarist for James Brown backing band), Ross Childress and Stephen Wines (founding member of Collective Soul, 2Broke Kings), Charlie Floyd (former Nashville recording artist), Charly Lowry (former American Idol alumni), Brant Leeper (John Mayhall and the Blues Breakers, Coco Montoya), and David Turner (Nothing But Groove). Her debut first single, “Love Feels Right”, releasing in May of 2023 will feature local New Mexico talent: frontman of “Nothing But Groove” David Turner on guitar and vocals, Mikey Wright (The Voice) on guitar, Kim Stone (Spyro Gyra) on bass, Chuck Lucero (Music Producer) on Drums, John Elias (Harry Connick, Jr. and Don Henley) on saxophone, Robert Muller on keyboard, and Vicente Garcia on harmonica. Elysé lives and works from her home studio in New Mexico as an oil painter and full-time musician. She is currently a member of two bands; Gary Farmer & the Troublemakers, Nothing But Groove, and her own self-titled band, Elysé. This year, Elysé signed a deal with Sony Music’s The Orchard to distribute her music worldwide. The Heat Seekers: Tell us a little bit about yourself? Elysé: I am a musician and visual artist from Santa Fe, NM. I had the unique experience of living in an old established Santa Fe neighborhood that was full of characters and artists of all realms; sculptors, glass blowers, writers, puppeteers, scientists, and concert pianists to name a few. Our neighborhood was unique in that all of us kids on the street were raised by the whole community and were heavily influenced by their eclecticism and their individual crafts. I discovered art in many different forms from a very early age and attribute my artistic voice to that experience.
THS: Which people or books have had the most influence on your career and why? Elysé: I am very fortunate to have been presented so many influential people in my life and career, however two people immediately come to mind; Gary Farmer and David Turner. Gary Farmer is a famous Indigenous actor and musician whose career has spanned over four decades. I have recently had the good fortune of being one of his newest members of his band, “Gary Farmer and the Troublemakers.” As an Indigenous actor, he has battled being typecast into stereotypical 19th Century Native American roles of which he has refused to play from his own morals and respect to his culture. I have always admired the fact that he has continually refused to compromise his integrity and vision to make it big in Hollywood. Gary has inspired me to maintain my own artistic integrity. David Turner is my songwriting partner with 40 years in the business as the opening act for everyone from Lynyrd Skynyrd to B.B. King. He has worn many hats in the business from recording, producing, publishing, and engineering to being one of the most soulful and heartfelt guitar players of all time. He is the one person in my life who has gifted to me all his years of trial and error and experimentation as an artist. I am currently going through a major life transition, both personally and musically. David has been my mentor and teacher through this process and has given and continues to give me every resource available to set me up to succeed. That level of kindness and generosity is a gift and one to be treasured if you are fortunate enough to find it. THS: In your opinion, what would you say is the #1 key to success? Elysé: Passion. You have to love what you do in order to be continually successful and for it to inspire others. Passion gives you the motivation to never allow failure to be an option. THE HEAT SEEKERS MAGAZINE
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