I did some home grown interviewing this time. I took it to the DMV and chit chatted with the talented Elle Maxwell. We touched on many subjects such as the delay on her new project, raspberry sherbet, & Chuck Brown.
Why did you make the name change from Lola Maxwell to Elle Maxwell?
Elle Maxwell: It was simply because there was already a Lola Monroe who was famous through the Trey Songz video. So her name was already well known. And sometimes when I would have interviews or try to get post on different websites, they would think they had Lola Monroe. People would get it mixed up. So I just changed it to Elle Maxwell.
How often do you write?
Elle Maxwell: I don’t really have a set time. I just write whenever it comes to me. I can be at work one day and I could think of some lines to a song. I can just start writing from there. Or I hear a song I really like and then I find the beat then I start writing to the beat. So it just depends on whenever I get that motivation to start writing. I would say maybe three times out of the week I write.
Who are some of your musical influences outside of Hip-Hop?
Elle Maxwell: I would have to say MSTRKFT, Little Dragon and Sam Sparro. He is a pretty good artist from Australia.
What is your biggest pet peeve? What grinds your gears?
Elle Maxwell: My biggest pet peeve would be someone who is overconfident, lateness, and close mindedness. Those are my top three.
When will YouDontMetooWelle drop?
Elle Maxwell: The date is still tentative. It is about finding the right engineer and the right place for the songs. So the project is on hold right now as far as putting a date out there. I do not want to keep throwing dates out there. So yeah it is still coming out.
Do your parents listen to your music at all?
Elle Maxwell: I always let my mother hear my songs. Well, some of them. Not the real vulgar ones. My father, who is a pastor, he saw me online on YouTube. I told him I was on there in the first place. He was on there and checked it out. He gave me criticism, constructive of course. He was telling me what he thought about it and his opinion. He supports me though regardless.
What makes this upcoming project different from the others like Rush Hour and Black Madonna?
Elle Maxwell: I feel like in my past projects I put them simply out there to display my ability as far as an artist that is just one lane and strictly to Hip-Hop. In this particular project, it is my representation of what I plan to bring to the music industry and what my goal is as far as impacting fans and what kind of influence I want to have. It is really a lot of concepts that I am bringing into this project and laying the blueprint out of what I plan to do with the fame I might get.
Is there any collaboration on the new project?
Elle Maxwell: It is just Elle Maxwell simply because I just want people to get to know who I am as an artist. I may have a singer on a song but that will be it. There will not be any other emcee or anything of that matter.
Who do you look for a stamp of approval before you release your music?
Elle Maxwell: I would say my mother first because I am close to her when it comes to that then my best friend and the people that I work with either my coordinator or marketing team. I want my music to be perfect when I let somebody hear it.
What accomplish in your career so far are you most proud of?
Elle Maxwell: I am just proud the fact that I am able to get on stage and perform for a group of people. Because when I was growing up, I used to be the shyest person ever. I would consider myself basically an outcast. I tried to avoid crowds. So my biggest accomplishment would have to be me just to get on the stage and express myself. It was not as easy as it is for me now as it was in the past. That is my BIGGEST accomplishment.
Has anybody given you constructive criticism after a show?
Elle Maxwell: I would say not just people I work with but also people that come see me. I know there was this guy at a club I did a month back. He wanted to buy a CD from me. But I did not have any CD’s with me. So he was like always have CD’s with you and be prepared. And as far as my team, they would tell me to talk and interact more with the crowd.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
Elle Maxwell: I wanted to be a choreographer. I used to admire Fatima Robinson. So when I was little, it was all about dance. I just wanted to have my own dance company, choreograph for this artist or be like a back up dancer for this and that artist. And that dream went away when I got to college. I started getting into music and I figured out what I wanted to do with my life. So before I wanted to become an emcee, I wanted to become a choreographer.
What is one of your guilty pleasures?
Elle Maxwell: I guess eating a whole tub of raspberry sherbet ice cream.
What is your favorite song out right now?
Elle Maxwell: I like this song with John Legend and MSTRKRFT called “Heartbreaker”. I like “Climax” by Usher. I have to add Elle Varner’s “Refill” too.
On the new project, is it more original production?
Elle Maxwell: When I first started, I wanted to do more original songs. But that was not in my budget. I mean it is a few original tracks on there.
If you were not having this interview right now, what would you be doing?
Elle Maxwell: I would be working on jewelry. That is what I am doing right now. I started making jewelry. It is a side hustle. (TheRegalPeople.bigcartel.com) Of course, I am into fashion so it all just goes together.
That is all the questions I had. You can give your final shoutouts, requests, thoughts…
Elle Maxwell: Shoutout to Nightrunners Entertainment, they are always holding me down and helping me with my music. Shoutout to the DMV for showing me love, all of my fans and supporters. And shoutout to all the artists that are not afraid to do what they do and conform to everyone else.
What has the respond in the city been to the death of Chuck Brown?
Elle Maxwell: YES! That surprised me because I was at work. Then I was on Instagram and my feed said RIP Chuck Brown. I’m like “what?!” Somebody had taken a picture of Wikipedia and the day he died and it said May 16, 2012. So I asked my co-worker what had happen and she was like he has been hospitalized for some time now and been real sick. It really surprised me. I was happy to see people in D.C. showed their love for him. People were outside the new Howard Theatre outside dancing and celebrating his life. It is sad that he is gone but he is a legend in D.C.