A Chat with ellee ven (18.03.25)
ellee ven dives into the heart and soul of her latest album, I Know So. The album invites listeners to embrace their true selves with confidence and energy, exploring themes of self-love, individuality, and creative freedom. Throughout the conversation, ellee ven reflects on how her journey – both personal and professional – has shaped her music, the importance of maintaining creative control, and the powerful connection she shares with her fans around the world. With themes of empowerment and authenticity at its core, I Know So stands as a fearless declaration of living life on your terms.
OSR: I Know So features themes of self-love and following your own heart. How do you want listeners to feel after hearing the album for the first time?
ellee ven: I would love them to feel energized after listening to any song. I would love them to feel a little bit more excited about the details of their life, sadnesses and snafus included.
OSR: Throughout your career, you’ve been a champion of creativity. How does your mantra, “CREATIVITY OVER EVERYTHING”, guide your decisions in both music and life?
ellee ven: “Creativity over everything” has been the life-saving mantra. If there’s anything I’ve learned over the years it’s that everything is mostly OK unless it really really isn’t. My songwriting gets to be autobiographical or not, in English or not, fiction or not, upbeat or not. It’s my life. The song is a moment. The photo. The love. The location.
OSR: I Know So is a fearless declaration of individuality. Is there a particular experience or turning point in your life that made you embrace this mindset so fully?
ellee ven: It’s hard to be seen as a product. All I can offer is my attempt to express myself honestly. I embody that. I don’t dress up in full makeup and heels daily so everyone can “understand me”. I don’t share my morning rituals on my Instagram. They are my rituals. The moment that became important to me was when I got married and divorced, all in a year. I made myself sick trying to figure out whose opinion of my future mattered most. And that was my turning point.
OSR: As a visionary, you’ve not only shaped the sound of your music but also the direction of your career. How important is it to you to maintain creative control over your work, and what does it mean to truly own your catalogue?
ellee ven: Creative control is it. What else? Mutually agreeable collaboration is good, but I like to get to say when the whatever is done. That’s the fun. Also, I’m glad I get to sing what I want to sing where I wanna sing it with whom I would like to sing it with.
OSR: Your music has made waves across 100 countries. How do you feel knowing that your message and sound are reaching so many people around the world? Does this global connection influence your songwriting?
ellee ven: The global connection absolutely influences my songwriting. It would be nearly impossible to separate them. The world has incredible melody, and intense rhythm, and my music is definitely reflective of my journeying. And of my heritage.
OSR: The Groovalution seems like a perfect match for the energy of I Know So. How did you all come together to form this band, and what role does each member play in the creation of the music?
ellee ven: The band members have all joined the forces at different times in my musical career. I will say that Terry and Prodéje have been with me the longest and their commitment to consistent production has allowed me to grow in ways indescribable. Jody and Jeff are also veterans and integral to The Groovalution’s potency.
OSR: Your visual identity is just as striking as your musical sound. How do you approach crafting the aesthetics around your music, from music videos to stage presence?
ellee ven: The visual identity around our music is definitely experience centric. We like to capture our events, recordings, performances and behind the scenes moments that we are experiencing and the beautiful things we get to see.
OSR: There’s an undeniable element of rebellion in your music, especially when it comes to rejecting the idea of conformity. What do you think is the hardest part of staying true to yourself in today’s world?
ellee ven: It really is challenging; to remain true to oneself in a world where everybody is telling you how to be, and how to feel. It’s always felt pretty illogical to me. Why are you asking how I feel, when really you just want me to care like you care? I feel like the truth of someone’s opinion is far easier to digest than the frustration of someone’s resigned ignorance and potential hostility. Sometimes I think a lot of people don’t like me, but at the end of the day, I just really do my best and try to see the best. And drink enough water.
OSR: I Know So encourages listeners to embrace their true selves. Do you have any personal mantras or rituals that help you stay aligned with your true purpose?
ellee ven: Well, obviously “creativity over everything”! As far as a ritual, I love yoga. I love Pilates. I love the grounding, rituals and a good cup of tea. (coffee in the morning, obviously). I do yoga retreats whenever I can.
OSR: What’s the most unexpected response you’ve received from fans or listeners about this album, and how did it make you feel?
ellee ven: A person told me that they, because of rocking out to I Know So, stood up for themselves at their place of business in a way that was personally empowering and boundary-centered. It resulted in them feeling heard and understood, and she said it was because of my song.
Many thanks to ellee ven for speaking with us. Find out more about ellee ven on her Instagram and Spotify.
