Elle’s a quiet achiever – Townsville Bulletin, April 8th, 2010
Young singer songwriter Elle Graham is building a strong following with her funky beats and soulful sound, writes DYLAN KOSICK
A YOUNG Townsville singer songwriter has been quietly building a strong following with her soulful performances and popular recordings.
Pianist and vocalist Elle Graham creates music with a quiet confidence and mesmerising singing patterns. Stripped back and built on the basics of good music, Graham creates songs that does not require studio layering to boost quality. And she is only 17 years old.
Over recent months Elle has gained strong local support in response to her five-track EP and enjoyable style of songwriting. Graham said she had been influenced by other singer songwriters with soft, unique voices.
”Some of my friends have said I sound like Norah Jones and she has been a big influence of me,” she said.
”Also musicians like Angus and Julia Stone, Regina Spektor and people with a quiet style of performing.
”I’m really young, my sound is still progressing but I’m definitely happy with how everything has been going”.
2009 saw Elle steadily hone her blissful songwriting skills and finally record her first five-track EP.
”I recorded an album last year called Whisper and I’ve been lucky enough to have almost sold all of the copies,” she said.
”I’m proud of that.”
Graham is wasting no time taking a break and is not one to suffer from writer’s block. She has already begun working on another record while also juggling studying at James Cook University. Next year the young artist will study music at Griffith University.
”I’ll be working throughout this year and slowly recording new songs for the next album,” she said.
”Next year I will be moving down to the Gold Coast to start studying music at Griffith University.
”It’s going to be a be change for me but I’m excited and I know I’ll be ready by the end of this year”.
Graham said she would miss Townsville and had grown to appreciate the close knit music scene of North Queensland.
”Townsville has a really cool arts community and what’s great is that people support each other all the time,” she said.
”It’s a great network that has really helped me as a young singer songwriter.”
Graham recalled one local gig that really highlighted the support she has gained.
”It was raining really heavily at one of the Lifesavers’ gigs, so hard that people had to come under the veranda around the stage,” she said.
”It suddenly became really crowded but it was inspiring to see all my friends and fans around me while I played.”
>>Visit Elle Graham’s web page to experience her sounds and look out for upcoming gigs: www.myspace.com/ellegrahamsongs