Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ellie Fern. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Ellie , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
This spring I had the privilege of collaborating with the Phoenix Children’s Hospital for their Power Play in the Park event. Ten kids were paired with different songwriters and fashion designers from ASU’s Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts to “bring their inner superheroes to life”. Aiden, my little superhero, loves dinosaurs, dragons, lions, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and The Hulk. He chose the name “Rex” for his superhero persona and I wrote, recorded, and produced his theme song. I had never written, let alone produced, anything like this and had to channel my inner child to create the best song I could. I included samples and sound effects, a badass electric guitar solo, and a catchy punk chorus. The night of the fashion show, “Rex” bravely walked the runway in his costume with my theme song playing in the background. Afterwards, his mom shared that they listened to the song on repeat the whole ride home. The task of creating a song, out of my usual genre, and for someone so special was daunting at first. I had to push myself creatively and emotionally. This project was so meaningful to me because of its impact. My peers and I were able to give these kids a night in the spotlight as the superheroes they are, both inside and out.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am a singer-songwriter and began my career at 16 years old playing the Phoenix restaurant scene. Five years later I still enjoy performing around Arizona at different restaurants, resorts, festivals, and private parties, but my ultimate career goal is to become a touring artist. My debut album Face to Face, released in 2019, is available on all streaming services. However, I have been developing my songwriting skills as a student in the Popular Music program at ASU, specializing in performance, songwriting, and music production. I am planning to record and release new music by the end of 2022. I am most proud of the connections I have been able to make within the Arizona music community. I am a featured artist on the first ever Tempe Playlist, I interned at Brick Road Studio, was a finalist in Alice Cooper’s Proof is in the Pudding competition, performed at the Wednesday Wednesday songwriter showcase at The Crescent Ballroom, and participated in the Music United Against Teen Bullying and Suicide benefit concert. There is so much talent and support for one another within the music scene. I am grateful to be part of this amazing community and very excited to see what the future holds.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
My senior year of high school, I was struggling with constant vocal fatigue and regularly losing my voice. I went to an ENT and discovered that my vocal cords naturally do not come together all the way. As a result, an excess amount of air comes through when I sing, causing vocal fatigue. I was prescribed vocal therapy and had to relearn how to use my voice and retrain my muscles to work in the correct way. As a singer, knowing something was abnormal about my voice felt devastating and the task of relearning how to sing and speak in a more healthy manner was overwhelming. The most difficult part was not having to go through voice therapy; it was the mental aspect of knowing something was wrong and falling back on my diagnosis to not feel “good enough” in comparison to other singers. Three years later, I am in a much better place thanks to my voice teacher, Mario Yniguez. At my last appointment with the ENT, I was told the only complete remedy would be surgery. Holding back tears, I shared this information with Mario. In response, he put out his hands to show me that he was missing a few of his knuckles. He told me that he was born this way and adjusted his technique to be able to play piano and pursue his music career. Since that moment, I have been able to embrace my voice and its uniqueness without any shame or self-pity. What makes us different, is what makes us beautiful.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the ability to connect with people of all ages and backgrounds. As a songwriter, I am essentially a story teller. The words I use in my lyrics and the chords I choose for the instrumentation are what transform a song from something I create for myself, to something that evokes emotions within my audience. It is magical when a loud room of people stop their conversations and hone in on the words I am singing. Although it feels vulnerable to share original music, it is my favorite form of human connection.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://elliefernmusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elliefernmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elliefernmusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxoJsFYWcR43X-dmRznEw3Q
- Other: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/elliefern/face-to-face
Image Credits
Raysquaredproductions Billy Hardiman Olivia R Steele