We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lara Mamoun. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lara below.

Lara , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on so far has been my debut album ‘Purple Skies’. I’ve been working in the film industry for the last 6 years, but no one expected me to release my music – because not many people knew I even made music. Music has always been a passion of mine, but it took me years to unveil my musical works under my stage name Elle Moon. I needed time to discover myself before I could share every part of myself with the world.

Composers, entertainers and writers always motivated me. I grew up playing guitar, piano and percussion, that’s why I produced 10 out of the 11 tracks on my album. ‘Purple Skies’ is an EDM, Pop and Rap album that was in large part conceived along a journey to Colorado that my ex-boyfriend and I were on. It was along that very trip that I was inspired to create some of my album’s most popular tracks, such as Big City Problems, Colorado, Supernova Star and Purple Skies.

This album not only delves into my struggles with addiction, my bisexuality, the toxicity of my former relationship, my goals and aspirations, but it also discusses my desires to overcome these obstacles so as to fulfill my destiny. I’m currently in the process of completing my visual album, which consists of the filming of every track off of ‘Purple Skies’ and will serve to showcase my journey from being Lara Mamoun to becoming Elle Moon.

I’m beyond thrilled to share my visual narrative with everyone because it’s taken me some time to make sure that my vision is met and that the stories I share are told in the most authentic, open and creative way. Beyond my excitement for ‘Purple Skies’, I’m also gearing up for the completion of my second album – set to be released by April 2023. I can’t wait to share more of that with you, once the time is right. But for now, all I can say is stay tuned for more!

Lara , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Definitely. So for those of you who don’t really know me, I’m Elle Moon. I’m a 29-year old Singer, Songwriter and Producer working in the music industry. I’m also working in the Film industry as a Screenwriter, Director, Comedian, Producer and Cinematographer. I know what you’re thinking … “that’s a lot of hats”. Yes it is, but I love what I do. And I realized early on that for me to be able to do what I love, I would need to immerse myself in every aspect of the process. That’s why I’ve been working in Film and Music for the last 6 years, and I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some incredible people both on and offscreen.

I got into the film industry in what’s certainly an unorthodox way. One day, I randomly stumbled upon the set of the ‘Fast and Furious 8’ film back in 2016, as a scene was being filmed outside of my college building. I was curious to see how everything was set up, so much so that I skipped class to literally walk on set and sit with the crew members to watch the shoot in its entirety. I was immediately drawn to the magic of Cinema and I knew that I would eventually be working in this field. Back then, I was finishing up my degrees in Civil Engineering and Economics, so I didn’t consider Film or Music as a full time job. But I knew right then and there that I was in love, and that one day, this would be my Future. That random occurrence certainly changed the course of my life and inspired me to pursue my true passions.

2021 was a great year for me, in spite of the onslaught pandemic. I was a Lead Actress on Season 1 of Atlanta’s ‘Going Live Show’ – a live sketch comedy show. Then, by that fall, I was a Lead Actress on ‘Couples Trip’ – a comedic feature film that I co-wrote, produced, ADed and helped with the post-production supervision. I was also a Lead in the Documentary short ‘KULU’ directed by Mike Mossallam, in partnership with the Arab American National Museum. In this documentary, I discuss my heritage, while also going over the intersectionality of my Arab-American and Bisexual identities. Aside from my on-camera performances, I also worked for Paramount and MTV as a UPM and Producer for the BTS crew on ‘Teen Wolf : The Movie’ and as an Assistant Director for the ‘Watch N React’ for Seasons 19-20 of ‘Wild N’ Out’. All in all, in the past two years, I worked extensively for Netflix, Paramount, BET, independent commercials, production houses and music videos.

2022, however, marked the debut of my musical career with the release of my album ‘Purple Skies’. Composing, singing and filming each song means so much to me because it’s my way of sharing my inner worlds with everyone I love. Making music is something that I love being able to share with everyone and that’s why this album meant so much to me. Each song is a reflection of some part of my life and each music video is a story I wanted to visually tell, as it depicts some element of my being or paints an image drummed up by my melodies.

Being so versatile helps me ensure that I’m always working on set, or at the studio, in some way, shape or form. This flexibility allows me to make money off of my passions, while also being able to get in touch with my creative side. What sets me apart from others is that I am not only in love with what I do, but I’m also in love with the process itself, the industry and the impact my work can leave behind. Having a platform is a big responsibility, so I want to make sure I can remain open, authentic and in harmony with the world and with myself.

Not everyone gets to live out their Dream, so I feel incredibly grateful for the ability to do what I love and to be able to support myself along the process. I work hard for what I have because I love everything I do, and I’m hoping I can continue to share my music, writings, performances, visual projects and businesses with the world as I grow older.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My creativity comes from a vulnerable place, while it also serves as the source of my strength. Growing up, I watched as my parents worked tirelessly to provide for me and my siblings. They always supported my artistic Nature and encouraged my entrepreneurial Spirit. Having their support early on helped give me the foundation and courage I needed to pursue my dreams.

One of the driving forces behind my creative journey is the love I have for all of my creations. I was built to create, just as I was built to dream, and my goals may appear to be ever so changing, as time, experiences and Life itself can shake things up. But no matter what short or long term goals I set for myself, I know that everything I strive to accomplish will continue to come from a place of love, vulnerability and faith.

I remain grateful for the many blessings God has given me. I feel as though practicing gratitude is important along the journey, as everything is a gift we get to share with ourselves and others. That’s why I feel so thankful to have big dreams and I feel so blessed to be able to pursue them wholeheartedly. In the future, I want to own and operate my own creative media agency, open up a recording studio for other creatives, run a few businesses in various industries – such as Tech – and I would love to create my own Television Network where I could adapt my scripts. All in all, I will not limit myself when it comes to the power of creativity, and I will continue to push barriers while sharing every part of myself with this beautiful world.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

In my view, society can take many steps to help foster the careers of young, thriving artists, creatives and entrepreneurs by allowing them the freedom to explore the Arts, Culture and Business. If we were to have more publicly funded Art and Business programs in communities and schools, we could inspire the artistic nature of creatives, while also teaching them the mechanics of how to survive in a thriving ecosystem.

Beyond these artistic and informative programs, we must also facilitate access to employment for artists and creatives. Given how this industry can heavily rely on the work of freelancers, there are certain unavoidable truths that many have to put up with along their journeys – such as not having health care, having to adopt a hustle mentality and having to face financial instability. This financial uncertainty means that at times, there can be years of struggling before many artists or creatives can ‘make it big’.

I think it’s important for society to continually promote and support the work and careers of artists and creatives. We must have more venues for them to perform and network at. We must also make it easier for them to produce their own independent content by making personnel and gear more affordable. As a community, we can also make greater investments in Art grants, scholarships and programs so that everyone can have access to the proper education, training and experience needed to perfect their work – no matter their socio-economic, racial or religious backgrounds.

If we continue to celebrate and promote the work of artists and creatives, we could continue to foster a thriving and supportive environment. Such an ecosystem can pave the way for new artistic styles, exceptional artwork and some much needed growth. This could certainly inspire a whole new subset of Society and can bring about positive changes in many artists’ lives. And this all starts with us and with what steps we are taking to make sure that we could help celebrate, promote and support the works of Artists and Creatives in our lives. With that being said, let us continue to lead by example and support each other.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ellemoonmusic.com and www.laramamoun.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/laramaamoun and www.ellemoon_music.com
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJeNG8LA0LienOtrrqOAdWw
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11863841/

Image Credits
All rights reserved to Moon Scope Records (you have Fair Use to use all of the photos, as I’m the sole owner of all of them under my record label)