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Nashville-based synth-pop artist ELTA has a brand new self-titled EP (available now), and she credits her husband for encouraging her to release the record. The project was inspired by her desire to learn and own the entire recording process from its engineering to its production. Pop Culturalist caught up with ELTA to chat about the EP!

PC: How did you discover your passion for music?
ELTA: I have loved singing since I was a little girl. I was always singing around the house, using anything I could as a microphone. Then, when I started learning piano at the age of five, I began writing little songs. I think I’ve always known that I wanted to be an artist!

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
ELTA: My husband, Jesse. He has been making music and pursuing music as a career since before we even met. Once we were engaged, we played our first show together and I remember thinking, “This is it. This is what I’ve been missing.” He’s my greatest cheerleader—without him I probably wouldn’t have put this record out. He encouraged me to release the songs and now, here they are! He’s always pushing himself creatively which, in-turn, encourages me to do the same. He’s awesome, you should meet him!

PC: Tell us about your self-titled EP. What was the inspiration behind it?
ELTA: This project started out with me sitting down with a few song ideas and really wanting to learn how to produce and engineer on my own. I’ve always worked with a team when putting together a project and I wanted to be able to create the ideas I had floating around in my head on my own. Most of my song ideas in the past have started out with lyrics and grew into a full produced song. This project was no different, but as I started creating and producing the songs, most of them took shape and told their stories without any lyrics needed. It was so freeing to just create something I loved listening to that had very little lyrical content, but still made me feel all the same emotions with each song.

PC: If you had to pick one song that best encompasses the EP, what would it be and why?
ELTA: Probably “Feel It”—the premise behind the song was the idea of how crazy it is that a song can make you feel a specific emotion, range of emotions, or it can take you back to a specific time and place in an instant. I wanted this song to encompass the vibe of the whole project with a synth driven melody and feel good chorus. This project is so different than anything I’ve done before and different than a lot of “synth pop” that’s out there, so I’m hoping people “feel it” the same way I did while creating it.

PC: You’re one-half of the duo The Prams. Walk us through the decision to venture on your own for this project.
ELTA: I’m always creating alongside my husband, Jesse (the other half of The Prams), and we’ve learned how to work really well together. He’s an engineer and producer, so has done almost all of our engineer work on all our projects, and we also produce together. He is amazing and has his hands in a lot of other projects as well as The Prams. So, we, of course, can’t always be working together, otherwise he could never get his other projects done! I have a constant well of ideas in my head that I’m wanting to create, but haven’t had the “know how” to create them on my own. So, this project was me working on learning to engineer better on my own in an attempt to get ideas out of my head and into the world without having to communicate them to someone else to make it happen. It started out mainly as a fun project solely for me, but turned into some really cool songs that I’m so excited to share!

PC: What’s been the biggest lesson you have learned being a part of this industry?
ELTA: Everyone’s path to “success” looks different and you can’t get bogged down by comparing where you are to anyone else. Learning to celebrate other artists’ wins and keeping your mind from going into comparison mode is key. What you have to offer is unique to you and needs to be created whether or not anyone even hears it! Learn to celebrate little successes and learn from what feels like failures. Music is a CAREER and I think you have to be committed for the long-haul to really make a lifetime career out of it. Loving what you do as a career is a complete dream come true, no matter how it looks.

PC: As we look ahead in 2019, what does the rest of the year hold for you?
ELTA: I hope you’ll be hearing quite a few more ELTA tunes! I love creating this stuff! Also, be on the lookout for more Prams music and shows in 2019!

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
ELTA: The O.C.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
ELTA: The Holiday

PC: Favorite book?
ELTA: Anything by C.S. Lewis

PC: Favorite play or musical?
ELTA: Newsies

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
ELTA: The old Jimmy Eat World

PC: First album you bought?
ELTA: DC Talk

PC: First concert you attended?
ELTA: Michael W. Smith’s Christmas concert

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
ELTA: First Ave in Minneapolis. I lived there for a long time and would love to tour back through and play at First Ave!

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
ELTA: The Civil Wars’ Barton Hollow. I’ve been a Joy Williams fan forever, so when The Civil Wars started making music together, I felt really inspired for my husband and I to play as a duo (and Barton Hollow came out the year we got married, 2011). Even though Prams’ sound is not Civil Wars-ish, their music made me really love and appreciate the sound of a female/male duo and the chemistry behind it.

To keep up with ELTA, follow her on Facebook and Instagram, and pick up her self-titled EP on Amazon Music, iTunes, or stream it on Spotify.