TO have a budding music career at a young age is an accomplishment. But for Elena Baravilala, it meant sacrifices and hard work. Elena is the epitome of a young artiste punching the musical industry’s glass ceiling with her diverse music.
And this year’s Fete de la Musique, Elena (who will be singing alongside the Blues Band from New Caledonia) has allowed the Alliance Française of Suva and the French Embassy into her very private life. In this exclusive and raw two minute interview, Elena shared her inspirations, dreams and her love for music!
Tell us something about yourself that you always wanted to say but no one has ever asked you yet.
This is a tricky question but I think people assume that I love the fame, the attention, the night life and social functions but no one has ever asked me if I liked that! So my answer is not really – it’s just not me, I love being around just family and those who are close to me. It keeps me grounded and secure!
And I never really liked the fame, the attention, the night life and social events but I had to do some of that for my love for music and for the fans that starts to follow you and your music.
I would say nobody knows that I am a simple home girl. I have learnt a lot along the years moving out of my comfort zone and finding my confidence and adapted to the new life, so my people skills has improved a lot through music (lol).
If you had to describe your music to new audience, how would you do it? What would you say?
I would say that my music is real because nowadays – all music is all about money, sex, drugs swearing, but my music is about issues of life that are more important than those matters that our human nature like to sweep under the carpet – you know! My music is really just about being real and modern touches that make it relevant to today’s age.
How do you want your audience to remember your music?
I want to be remembered as one of Fiji’s best female singer and writer, becoming an icon to young women and one that broke the trend of culture and tradition and crossed local boundaries to be relevant to the global world not just in music but in my perspective, my philosophies, my lifestyle and especially my character in becoming a better human being day by day selflessly living for others.
What music do you listen to apart from your own?
I realize that I listen to a lot of songs that people don’t listen to because for me I pay attention first to the lyrics, then the vocal style and techniques being used,
I listen to the interpretation of the song, then I listen to it again just to listen to the bass line or the guitar or the drum patterns and that always excites me but I am usually put off by the local remixes — I think it should be banned because it just rubbishes and devalues any music for that matter.
My playlist is made up of Emely Sandae, La Porsha, Mary Mary, Cece Winans, Whitney, Beyoncé, Israel Haughton, Yolanda Adams, Mary J Blige and I love listening to old school music especially R n R, Soul and Jazz.
Are you a big fan of jazz?
Well yes I am, not that I am an expert at it, I still admire the local Jazz singers like Annie Mawi and Ditui Abariga — how do these women do it for real so I would say I love listening to jazz but in terms of execution I still have a long way to go.
