A Conversation on Growth, Change and the Future: The Artistic Evolution of E.L

As an artist, I have no weaknesses…Being an artist is a walk in the park for me. 

E.L

Elom Adablah popularly known as E.L is a multi-talented artist and creative from Ghana. Over the years, E.L has made a name for himself as a rapper, singer, producer, and sound engineer. He has won numerous awards, including “Artist of the Year” at the 2016 Ghana Music Awards, and has shared the stage with the likes of Lauryn Hill. E.L is also known for his genre-bending abilities and presence in the Ghanaian music industry in various eras of music like the Azonto- Afrobeats period while maintaining his core in rap, which is quite commendable. E.L’s energetic performances and hit songs have solidified his place as a leading force in contemporary Ghanaian music.

Get ready to learn more about this musical powerhouse in our Exclusive interview. We discuss virtually with Ato, Ella (E.L ‘s publicist), and of course the man of the moment himself, E.L. The conversation kicked off with introductions and an exchange of pleasantries.

Meet E.L, the multi-talented Ghanaian artist who has taken the African music scene by storm with a career spanning 15 years.

You stated that you started writing raps in class on Froddo Baggins. When did you first discover your love for music, and what would you call your earliest interaction with music?

I’ve always been into music since I was a kid, I used to be in the choir and played the keyboard. It’s something that has always been with me. I joined a rap group and began to write rap at the back of the classroom when everybody else was busy with something else. I’d be the guy at the back of the class copying Busta rhymes, Nas then writing and studying their lyrics. I have been very much interested in rap music, poetry, and lyrics. When I was in high school, I joined a rap group called Skillionaire and which is basically the first rap group and the best hip-hop group to come out of Ghana. I went solo after then and have been making music ever since.

Music has also been an interest of mine since when I was younger, and it is no surprise that E.L shares a similar story. I remember when we used to disturb the class by making music behind the class, being a part of the choir from a young age, and learning how to play musical instruments.

We admire how your sound evolves with the different phases and eras of music, yet you maintain your core in rap. Have you experienced any challenges in this aspect as one of the top guys holding it down in rap in the Ghanaian music industry?

I can’t stick to a genre, it’s impossible for me. I’ve been told by a lot of people over the course of time who have encouraged me to pick a lane but you know I will never pick a lane. This is because life is about evolving, why pick one thing when there are many lanes? It’s like going to an Iie-cream store and you are asked to pick only one flavor, that’s no fun.

So, if I’m able and gifted with the ability to express myself in different ways, that’s what I’m gonna do. I think it’s a double-edged sword because sounds come and go. Today, it might be Amapiano that is on top, and the next day, it might be Afrobeats that’s on top. I don’t really subscribe to submitting to the status quo, I just express myself in whatever way I feel comfortable and I think my fans appreciate it as well, and they are very different from your ordinary set of fans out there. They appreciate good music and are differently-minded and energetic, not crowd-followers.

Despite every other genre you explore, one can notice that you still keep your core in rap regardless.

Rap is still going to be prevalent in what I do because that is what I started with and everything else came into play along the line when I started experimenting with different sounds. There is always going to be an element of rap whether I am making Azonto or Afrobeats.

As an artist, you should be able to evolve with the times and stay atop the eras you pass through because that is what keeps you on top of the game.

Your music has been described as having a strong political and social message. How important is it for you to use your platform to speak out about important issues of national and societal concern?

It’s a very controversial topic for me because I studied political science when I was in uni. (I interject to also share that I also studied political science and E.L agrees that we do share a lot in common after all).
But, I’m not very much interested in politics, especially African politics. I think most of our political systems need a total overhaul and it is a very controversial topic because since I was a child, I have seen administration after administration come and do the same thing and I have lost a lot of faith in what politicians say and do. I guess that’s the frustration with which I pen my political ideas and express them in my songs. But the main thing is, I am trying to make people realize that we need to be more active in making change happen and that is the small part I hope to play and, energize people to be more involved.

This is totally understandable because as an artist, many of your fans and listeners look up to you to use your platform to speak on certain issues in the socio-political sphere, even as you maintain your creative brand. I also believe that using your platform to hold the government accountable also brings some form of credibility and respect that transcends the walls of music and creativity.

Also, you have been off the radar for quite some time, what were you up to during the break and how would you describe your state of mind during that period?

There are other things I’m interested in apart from music as I mentioned earlier. I’ve been doing a lot of studies in certain areas. I basically just took a break for myself to be with some people I love, my family and pursue other things as well. Music can take a huge chunk of your life and time if you let it, but I’m always going to be an artist who will give myself time and come back when I think it is necessary. So, I have been studying and spending time with friends and family.

That’s great means you need time off to refresh the creative juices and come back stronger.
I mean, the creative juices are always flowing but being in the public eye is another animal. So, I guess that’s the part where I needed a break.

Should we expect upcoming releases that touch on your experiences during your mini break?
Music is always an expression of your experiences. It’s the little things you go through as a human being that you express in your music. The experiences I share depend on the kind of song I’m dropping.

You have been doing music way before the existence of platforms like Tik Tok and Spotify, what latest trend in the music industry surprised you the most, and you are willing to explore it as well?

I mean, the emergence of A.I, not the artiste but artificial intelligence is pretty scary because now, anybody can express themselves musically. To me, it is not necessarily a good thing. I also think Tiktok is helping a lot of emerging artists in their careers. I haven’t done so much research into TikTok myself as well, but I know it helps emerging artists express themselves better and access fans and listenership all over the world. All social media do a really great job but the emergence of A.I just opened a huge sector of opportunity that has not been tapped into. Social media has existed for a while but A.I is new and is exciting to me.

Ato chips in with his question regarding the emergence of A.I. He asks a curiosity-driven question

“Do you feel like in the near future that there could be a possibility where certain music interactions and basic human functions can become extinct because of the advancement of A.I and its capabilities?“

It’s up to us as creatives to take advantage of these opportunities – E.L. He further posits that there might come a time when physical artists will start fading slowly and there is going to be a potential of having people subscribing to virtual experiences.

Further explaining, E.L expresses that we need to be creative with these opportunities as creatives. For example, I’m scheming how to assume different identities with my music. For example, an artist who knows what he’s doing can take advantage of these opportunities and brand himself as a different artist to make a living out of it by catering to different audiences and markets. The future is inevitable, so it is up to us as creatives to take advantage of these technological advancements. I’m a huge supporter of these technological revolutions.

I also feel that as a creative who is good at what he does, you shouldn’t be scared of technological advancements these days. It’s only going to amplify what you already do and provide more efficient ways to do them.

What would you call your biggest weakness as an artist?

As an artist, I have no weaknesses. I’m a perfect specimen as an artist. I’m truly Superman as an artist (Ato cosigns this as the truth). As an artist, I sing, rap, produce, mix, and direct my own art. But when it comes to the non-artistic aspect of music, that is my weakness, because the business side of it is why I am lucky to have a great team. If not for that, all my art and talent will be for naught. Being an artist is a walk in the park for me.

That’s great to hear and I know you do a lot of things as a creative but when it comes to the business aspect, it’s not a one-man thing.

Congratulations on the Onerpm deal. How’s it been working with them so far?

It’s going well and we are working together to make something amazing happen. We haven’t even begun. We’re about to drop our first song together and start the journey… I’m very optimistic and hopeful about the future. I just want the music to get to where it needs to get to. It’s not about me, it’s about the music and whatever means by which I can make that happen is what I’m gonna do. Presently, Onerpm is one way to get that to happen.

However E.L, I’ve been listening to Ayele for some days now and you teased on your Twitter that you have new music on the way. What theme will you be exploring in your new project?

It’s just good vibes. I want to come out with a song that makes people happy. It’s a time for us to celebrate. So, my first single of the year is basically going to be a happy song, something to get people dancing and vibing to. I’m both nervous and excited to drop it. Like I always say, I record music every single day and those songs belong to me until I drop but once I drop the song, it doesn’t belong to me anymore. There’s an element of anxiety and excitement as well but the next song is something to get the people bouncing.

I mean, that is what people enjoy in this part of the world. We love to dance and move our bodies all the time. Can’t wait for E.L’s new single to drop.

To conclude this discussion, I would love to know what changes you would like to see in the African music industry, coming from an artist’s point of view.

I would like to see more patronage of a variety of music. I want to see more different types of music emerge from Africa onto the global scene. We are kind of caught up in a single way of doing things right now and we have so much more color and creativity to express to the rest of the world, so I would like to see that. From Ghana specifically, I would like to see more quality in our production and output, technical-wise. Anyone can make a great song, but then you play it on certain platforms and you don’t get the effect that you want. I would like to see more training in the engineering aspect of music.

I agree that we have much more to offer sound-wise in the African entertainment scene and am also of the opinion that there should be more exposition and development for those in the backend of the African music industry.

As we wrap up our interview with E.L, we are left in awe of his talent and passion for music. His ability to blend genres and create unique sounds has earned him international recognition, and we can’t wait to see what he has in store for us next.

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