Meet the Brooklyn based collective behind the new Visual EP "ESCAPING EDYN"
A Must See Project From These Young Creatives
If we had to name a shared characteristic in most of the successful artists that we've interviewed, it'd probably be their abstract way of viewing the world as a whole. The same unique disposition that often leads to them being labeled as outcasts or misfits in the white collar world, gives them a creative advantage in the arts. For Elle LaJae, a Brooklyn based artist, it was this mentality that led her to quit her job and purse her passion. Now, she's delivered on that talent with an amazing Visual EP "Escaping Edyn".
Escaping Edyn is the story of a Black Woman's (Elle) awakening and self realization in Modern day Babylon (America). Comprised of an astounding 90+ images, the photography project takes viewers on a journey that feels necessary and poignant, pulling from elements of our past to create something new and relevant.
We spoke to Elle LaJae about the year and a half process of bringing this together, and the talented collaborators who helped make it possible.
1. The whole idea of a Visual EP is ambitious but you guys pulled it off. What sparked the idea behind "Escaping Edyn"?
That's a good question. So Escaping Edyn started off as a set of poems. In 2015, I picked up my notebook and began to write the sparks that came to me. At the time, I was working in corporate and was extremely unhappy -- the creativity necessary for this project was suppressed. I just wanted to make music. I would talk to all of my friends about my dreams and project hopes, but they seemed unattainable. It wasn't until 2019 when I quit my job and dedicated myself entirely to the creative process that this project was really able to come to fruition.
So the short answer is this: Escaping Edyn was born out of dreams, manifestation, and stardust.
"we were placed here to spark ideas, spark change, and to help birth a generation of artists that are reflections of what it means to be in the world and not of it"
2. In our previous exchange, you mention that that project is the story of a Black Woman's (Elle) awakening and self realization in Modern day Babylon (America). Can you expand a bit on the concept, and how important this sense of self realization is for you all in these times?
Elle is what I began myself as I grew up, Elle is who I grew into seeing as myself as. When I was a child I was taught that "you are in this world, but you are not of this world". As I grew older, I took that notion with me. As I developed friendships I realized that all of the people around me fall into that same category, being "in this world, but not of it." My friends and I have always been the "outcasts." The outcasts are the ones who don't exactly fit in with others (other people, other artists), because our minds see beyond what makes sense to most people. And honestly? That took a long time for us to come to grips with. We weren't placed here to fit into a mold -- we were placed here to spark ideas, spark change, and to help birth a generation of artists that are reflections of what it means to be "in the world and not of it". It is important to see that in oneself, because many times this nation...this world order...will attempt to make you feel insane for being different...for not meeting their status quo... we need to begin to see ourselves as unquantifiable, unquantifiable magic.
3. You guys put 6 months of work into this. Can you walk us through a bit of the process and the collaborators who made it all possible?
Yes so, it took 6 months of filming, but more like a year and a half of putting it together. I'll begin with the base work and ideation sessions. In 2017/18 I met someone who I consider to be one of my best friends, Mori Hitchcock [Mori is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns]. Mori and I would link up EVERY DAY and watch music videos. With each video, I looked at Mori and said... I'm going to do that, I want to work with this person, or that person eventually. And they believed in EVERY WORD. That's what I believe it really starts with, someone GENUINELY believing in you so that you may believe in yourself. Now fast forward to 2019.
I produced all of the beats that went into this project, as well as wrote and recorded all of the lyrics. I found an AMAZING sound engineer named July Quin who was able to mix and master the tracks for me in an amazing way. I don't typically read/speak music. I speak in colour, and feelings. I was able to speak with him in colours, so that he understood how to properly layer the sound and what the sensation was that listeners should feel.
"I would talk to all of my friends about my dreams and project hopes, but they seemed unattainable. It wasn't until 2019 when I quit my job and dedicated myself entirely to the creative process that this project was really able to come to fruition."
As this was happening, I developed a STRONG group of artist friends (I consider them some of the closest things to family that I've ever had): Tyler Andrew, the WORLD'S GREATEST PHOTOGRAPHER; Maya Greene, THE WORLD'S STRONGEST DOCUMENTARIAN; Akintoye Lubin ONE OF EARTH'S GREATEST PERFORMERS; my partner Chigo, THE WORLD'S BEST FILM PRODUCER AND SHOWRUNNER, my sister Ashley, an ALL AROUND CARRY, AND AMAZING MAKEUP ARTIST; My Bestfriend Jelissa, THE WORLD'S BEST PLUS-SIZE STYLIST and Nicole Retalis, an AMAZING CINEMATOGRAPHER and from there we started.
I started placing open calls on my instagram for dark skinned black people of all genders and identities and started receiving applications from some INCREDIBLE people. Then in August we began our first rehearsals on the beach. I wanted each cast member to feel comfortable moving their bodies, as they would be embodying one specific natural element (water, earth, fire, air) for the duration of this project. We rehearsed for four weekends straight, spending at least 6 hours per rehearsal and we had so much fun. Locations varied and were determined by so many factors including our crew's commute and the weather. Soo...we rehearsed on the beach a few times. Many times beach goers would join us in our group exercises because what we were doing looked intriguing.
From there we hit the ground running! The team would meet up on a weekly basis and plan every photographic shot, every cinematic shot. I wish I were making this up, however we were serious, determined, and wanted to do this correct. Thus, we have more than 20+ documents from this project filled with intricate details on exactly how to execute every portion of this project. And did we follow this formula all the way through? Yes, yes we did.
4. What's next for the team? Where should they follow you at if they're interested in keeping up with your journey?
We'll be getting started on another visual project in December and will continue to steadily give y'all this visual and auditory realness. You can follow me at @theellemental on Instagram where I post performances, events, photoshoots, guides for self-care, and my journeys through current meadows. nuhsosgarden.com is my website for all products I create including candles and you can also find archived events I've hosted and upcoming events and opportunities.
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