Chasing A Dream with Elfi
Mustard had the pleasure of speaking with Elfi; a Dutch singer-songwriter who left her corporate career to chase her dream of being a musician.
Mustard has observed that humans have what are known as “dreams.” Dreams are not linear. They come in many forms. Often times, Mustard has noticed, dreams can start when a human is are identified as a child. These dreams are big and sometimes out of this world. As humans get older, and life happens, there is a chance they may no longer be able to make their dream a reality. Childhood dreams, like a small human’s imagination, can feel out of reach. Because they seem unattainable does not mean a human should not chase them when they get older.
Elfi, a Dutch singer-songwriter, now studying vocals at Academy of Contemporary Music in London, has turned their dream into a reality. Before pursing music full-time Elfi had a successful corporate career in Marketing. This was something they enjoyed but knew she was destined for something more. Music was calling out to her. Thanks a yoga retreat without any way to contact to the outside world she decided to leave the corporate world and follow their dream of becoming a musician.
Yesterday she released her debut single ‘Dream of Me’ which is beautiful and haunting. Elfi allowed Mustard an early preview of the release. It captivated them. Listening to it reminded them of when they heard Laufey for the first time. Blown away by their vocals, lyrics, and production. Perhaps when you listen to it you will feel the same way.
In our interview below we had the pleasure of speaking about leaving their marketing career, parallel parking, romance novels, and so much more!
1. Mustard is grateful and appreciative to have you join them at Music Shelf. How are you doing today?
I’m doing really well! I’m just super happy Dream of Me is out, I had a great iced coffee this morning - all is well.
2. When you were six years old you got your first microphone and performed gigs for your family. Does current Elfi see any of past Elfi in your performances now? Do you still own that microphone?
Yes! Bless my family for sitting through all my shows. That microphone is such a core memory, I remember when I just got it that I was too shy to sing - so I just talked into it a lot. It took some coaching from my uncle and aunt, but when I got the hang of it - there was no stopping it.
When I see those videos, I see many parallels. But the most important one is that little spark in my eyes. I can see it on videos of my recent gigs, when I’m super happy - I have that same glance. The same magic in my eyes.
And yes, the microphone has never left my parents home. And I’ll hold on to that thing forever.
3. There was a feeling inside you that wanted to give music a try. Could you share more about your transition from marketing to music? Have there been any overlaps between the two?
For a few years, I was extremely focused on my marketing career. I worked a lot, got myself up the corporate ladder, got more and more responsibilities and opportunities. And I truly loved my job. But I knew something was missing.
It actually took a yoga retreat (a week of no phone, no contact with the outside world) for me to realize that I was missing music. And that while I loved my job, and piece of my soul was deeply unhappy without it.
When I got home, my vocal coach pushed me to audition with music academies - and when I got accepted in London, I never looked back.
Although of course, music is very much also a marketing game. You can have the best music, but you do need people to know about it. So my experience definitely has not gone to waste.
4. You are currently studying vocals at the Academy of Contemporary Music in London. What advice or lesson has really stuck with you? How does it feel to be chasing your dream full-time?
I learn so much at ACM, from the whole business side of music - to just loads of vocal training. For example, I never really tried jazz before I got to London, and now I love spending time in jazz bars and it also slightly influences my songwriting. It’s a great way to get out of you comfort zone.
The best piece of advice came from on of my tutors, who inspired to start writing my EP. He really made the whole concept of releasing music a lot less scary, and pushed me to just go and get my music out there.
Pursuing music and releasing this EP, is the adventure of a lifetime. I love every second of it, every high and every low.
5. Who (or what) influences Elfi?
My songwriting is definitely inspired by great female vocalists and writers like Adele, Taylor Swift, Olivia Dean, Laufey. I love their music, I love their lyrics, I love the depth they bring to their projects.
And my uncle. He’s my biggest music inspiration. He’s a great musician, and he always believed in my ability to sing and to write. Having him in my corner, is the biggest blessing.
6. Mustard wonders: what are some key elements to an Elfi song? Could you share more about your creative process?
Drama.
Kidding. A bit. :)
I’m a person that carries a lot of deep feelings and emotions. I remember a lot, I feel a lot. And when I feel it, I write it down - and these little stories become the songs I write.
So far me, my music start with the lyrics and the song. Everything else follows.
7. Mustard has observed that you will try to pet every living animal at your own expense. Can you provide an estimate of how many animals you have pet? Does Elfi have a favorite animal?
Yes! I love animals, especially random cats that I see in the streets of London. Or old, fluffy dogs. With grey hairs that fade into their fur.
And good question, because I am quite a frequent petter.. It must be at least over a thousand. Possibly even ten thousand. If you have a cat or dog, please let me pet.
8. They have also observed you can float really well. What tips or tricks could you provide readers to help them with their buoyancy?
Thanks mustard! Really appreciate that compliment, because I can indeed float really well. It’s a party trick I can only showcase ever so often.
The trick might be to just keep a lot of air in. And don’t think about the float too much. That’s when you sink. Same as thinking about stairs when walking on stairs, that’s when you trip.
9. Have humans figured out a way to avoid parallel parking?
I can only speak on my tricks, and that’s to keep on driving until you find an alternative. I would rather walk 20 minutes than parallel park.
10. Every year for your birthday you celebrate at a karaoke bar. Do you already have a song in mind or do you choose one within the moment? Which karaoke bar would you recommend readers check out?
Oh I do have some favorites, among which ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. The trick to a good karaoke song, is picking something people can sing along to. So you can also just sing along, and enjoy the moment.
In Amsterdam my go-to is Duke of Tokyo and in London I love going to Lucky Voice. Check them out, you’ll have such a good time.
11. Mustard has also observed that you like humans who feel like sunshine. What are some signs that a human radiates and gives off sunshine energy?
My best friend is an embodiment of sunshine. It’s that little spark, the warmth they bring. I think you have to meet it to know it. And if you meet one, hold on to them.
12. Mustard loves the concept of your Midnight Letters that you share on social media. When did you first get the idea to begin this series? Are these physical letters that you pen at midnight?
Thanks so much!
My writing always picks up in the night, when the world goes quiet and it’s just me and my thoughts. And I won’t lie to you, sometimes I tend to spiral a bit, and writing has been the most effective way to understand myself and to help myself process emotions.
Most of the letters start in my journal, that I write in every day. And some of them I hide in the notes app on my phone.
I love sharing them. And I noticed that the letters I’m a bit nervous to share (like ‘easy to love’ or ‘thirty’), are always the letters I get the most response on. I love it when people share me their stories in return, makes me feel less alone as well.
13. In your "Easy to Love" midnight letter you share that you have taken up reading as a hobby. What type of books do you feel yourself drawn to? Can romance novels be trusted?
Don’t trust the romance novels!!
Or actually, maybe do. Don’t be like me. Love like romance novels does exist.
I recently have been loving a good romance novel, but I also really like a good drama. One book I have recommend everyone I know is ‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’. Pick it up, it won’t disappoint.
14. Mustard has noticed you have the ability to turn bitter into glitter. How do you do this? Can any human turn bitter into glitter?
The key is the following.
Bitterness is an emotion that is very much allowed to exist. You can feel every bit of it, and you may feel it as deeply as you like.
But at some point, it’s time to let it go. It’s time to pull away the mist, to blow off the dust, and live life again to the fullest. Because often the experiences that made us a bit bitter, also made us the humans we are today.
And you as well Mustard. I think you can also turn bitter, into glitter.
15. Mustard would like to congratulate you on releasing your debut single Dream of Me. Could you share more about your debut release? How does it feel to have an original song of yours out into the world?
Thanks Mustard for all the support!! It’s been amazing. And a bit nerve-wracking, because it feels like the song is not really mine anymore. It now belongs to everyone who listens to it. And I hope it can transport people, make people understand their own feelings better.
16. Dream of Me is one of the most beautiful songs Mustard has heard. Everything from your vocals to the piano. It is haunting and captivating. Are you able to share more about the production behind your debut single?
That means a lot!!
The song started with the line ‘do you still hear me talk in my sleep?’. I had been having dreams of someone, I really was trying to let go of. And the dreams kept pulling me back into the emotions, I really did not want to feel anymore.
I got behind my piano (in the middle of the night), and started writing it. It was done in 24 hours.
Robert Brad, the pianist who plays on the song, then turned my initial chords into this beautiful, haunting piano piece, that really carries the song and the emotion behind it.
And then it was passed to Theo Yamazaki, and he made it into this dream of a song (no pun intended). He really created this world between reality and sleep, and he really made the song come to live.
17. Mustard wonders: do you know if they still dream of you? Was this story inspired by any of your midnight letters? Or a different situation entirely?
Actually, I have no clue. I am quite sure that he has no clue this is about him, because I never really communicated that for me, it wasn’t really over yet. So I do still wonder if he dreams of me. Maybe after this song?
There is a midnight letter only called ‘dreams’. You have to scroll back to march of this year. But it’s about the same situation. And I wrote this song shortly after.
18. Mustard loves the cover art for this release. It looks like you are dreaming. Can you recall what you were thinking about during this photoshoot?
Ah that’s awesome! All credits to Jantina Talsma, she’s a magician with a camera.
What you don’t really see on the picture, is that this is a balcony in a theatre, that’s actually quite high up. Jantina was on the floor, quite far away from me and screamed; ‘just lean over!’. So I did, and I got more and more comfortable in this leaning position. At one point my mind, my mind wandered off a bit, and it turned into this shot.
19. A human gets the opportunity to see Elfi perform. How would you describe your live performances? Do you have a pre or post show routine?
Glitter!!
I love being on stage, it’s where I feel most alive. I give everything I’ve got to the audience and fully let them in. And in between songs, I tend to talk a lot. Kind of like a midnight letter. But then live, and completely unfiltered.
My pre-show routine is sushi. It’s somehow the one food I can stomach when I am nervous, and it gives me all the energy I need. I make sure I meditate to calm my mind a little, and throw own all the glitter I own.
And when I get back home, I’m always in this funny state of tiredness - but I can never sleep. I blame the adrenaline.
20. What is on the horizon for Elfi?
Who knows what life will bring. But I do know that on November 22, my debut EP ‘Bitter into Glitter’ will be out. I might even have an EP release show straight after. I’ll make sure to let you know Mustard!
I’m also excited to get back on stage. The focus this EP has brought me has been fantastic, but I have been a bit of a hermit. It’s time to get out there again. Live life. And write songs and letters about all the big feelings.
21. Where can readers listen to your music?
All major streaming platforms, like Spotify, Apple Music and Tidal.
And, if you really want to support me and my music - you can also purchase my songs on Bandcamp.
Music Shelf with Mustard is a publication that interviews independent musicians from all across the globe. It is read in 39 states and 36 countries. Check out previous interviews here.
Music Shelf with Mustard originally began in early 2021. Inspired by independent musicians on social media application TikTok Mustard knew they had to do something to help share their music. Shortly after Music Shelf with Mustard was born. Its goal is to highlight independent artists from all across the globe. Mustard appreciates you taking the time out to read this interview.