e!ena
She's from a small town near Boston, MA but currently resides and creates music in Burlington, VT. After a long hiatus during which she graduated college, ended her collegiate hockey career, and began working as a medical assistant, she had started creating music again. Composing songs has become her way of coping with her ADHD, anxiety and depression disorders.
While she's still learning how to produce, ("it’s MUCH harder than I thought") she found solace in expressing herself through heartfelt lyrics and captivating melodies which are complimented by her own vocals.
Who is the "human" behind the artist "e!ena"?
I’m an independent artist from Massachusetts but am currently based out of Burlington, VT. I make my music in my bedroom using Logic Pro on my laptop, an electric guitar, and a microphone. Besides making music, I studied neuroscience and studio art and played ice hockey in college.
Since graduating, I have been working full time as a medical assistant in dermatology at my local hospital, (I’m interested in working in healthcare in addition to pursuing music). In my free time, I love to make music, (clearly) paint and draw, and hit the gym and ice rink. I’m also a huge advocate for mental health and body positivity.
How did you get into music, what were your first steps?
I started making music when I was around 10, but had a dry spell for a few years when I began to pursue hockey. I also have ADHD and was undiagnosed for awhile so most of my time was taken up with school, (before being treated, it took me about twice as long as everyone else to understand material/get things done).
Now that I’ve graduated college, I have begun taking guitar lessons and making music again. With that said, my first steps were technically when I started writing my own lyrics as a little girl and coming up with simple strumming patterns on the guitar. However, I really consider my re-emergence into the music world as a young adult as my first real step.
"Cognitive dissonance" sounds amazing, what's the story behind the song, what was your inspiration?
Thank you! I think that, even though it’s probably not going to be my “best” release since it’s one of my first, it will always mean the most to me. It’s all about a mental health episode I had near the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. I experienced a lot of traumatic events that I had dismissed for awhile. They eventually sort of just culminated and hit me all at once. That song truly helped me get through that experience.
It’s meant to illustrate what it feels like to have anxiety and depression, on top of those traumatic events I endured; it depicts the feeling of utter hopelessness and almost like you’re going insane. The turnaround in the melody near the end represents that gleam of hope that truly does exist and the possibilities that are to come, (cliche, I know, but it’s true!)
When did you recognize your songwriting talent?
As previously mentioned, I really started writing music when I was around 10, and that was when I began to realize my passion for it. I didn’t truly understand my potential until I performed my first “real” original song, (about my middle school crush, of course) at my middle school chorus/band performance. I was pretty shocked by the response I received from my teachers and other students.
How would you describe Burlington's Music Scene?
I’m still quite new to it, but everyone I have met has been INCREDIBLY talented and they are all amazing human beings. I’m really looking forward to meeting and working with more artists and musicians around here.
If you could choose one artist or producer for a collaboration, who would it be?
Billie Eilish, 100%. I discovered her a little on the later side, (around 2019) and still remember the feeling I had when listening to her music.
As someone who struggles with anxiety and depression, I really identified with what she had to say and simply felt heard and understood, which is exactly how I hope to make people feel when listening to my music.
Her lyrics are so well thought out and the production quality is obviously incredible. I’m also a huge fan of who she is as a person and what she stands for.
Any chance to see you somewhere live on stage?
I’m still working on that, (lol). Like I said, I’m very new to this world and am still learning the ropes in terms of getting myself out there.
What's next for you?
I have another single that I’m planning to release by the end of January, 2023. I’m also hoping to get my first EP out by the end of 2023. Hopefully in the meantime I’m able to get some more live performances around my area.
