Ellevision Has Arrived! (UPL Debut with Elle Varner)
Off the top...listen to the remix for Miguel's "All I Want Is You". It is sung by MBK/J Records newcomer Elle Varner. She calls it "All I Want Is Him" and she shuts this remix down and even used some of the original vocals to create an incredible duet. I hope Miguel appreciates this. They need to do a video quickly for this, but with budget cuts nowadays it may not happen. I'll post it ASAP if so...
On November 16th, I had the pleasure of meeting this young lady at a very intimate engagement/mini-performance for writers/bloggers held at Premier Studios in midtown Manhattan. Get the word out early since her debut album won't be ready until sometime in 2011. Very smart. I was blown away by her talent and the way she just shines like a star. She was incredibly humble and unapologetic at the same time.
Elle's bio reveals that she is the product of a musical family with both parents having served as songwriters/producers for Motown Records. Elle spent many childhood days and nights bouncing from one studio to the next with her parents and now she does it out of pure passion. She's an NYU graduate of the Clive Davis Program of Recorded Music. After graduating, she was awarded "most likely to get signed" and "most likely to win a Grammy."
This Los Angeles-native played us some demo versions of the songs that will be featured on her forthcoming debut project. Standouts included the acoustic India.Arie-esque "So Fly" and the club-enhancing "Refill". Watch Elle perform "So Fly" live for BET's Music Matters campaign. The lyrics are so raw! She sings honestly about her insecurities especially as an overweight child. Then, "Refill" took the cake of the evening (label is keeping this one under wraps for little while longer unfortunately). Even Elle expressed that it is one of her favorite songs she's ever written! Basically, Elle sings about being the lonely girl in search of more love (or loving) from her male interest. So she needs a refill like "the girl at the bar...been there too long."
Musically, Elle is a beast. She's been training for this moment to shine and she has the goods to back it up. UPL will be watching her closely. Without a doubt, she deserves to be heard. As always, SUPPORT TRUE TALENT!
Special shoutout and thanks to The Chamber Group and MBK/J Records!
- uhkeem