IMRO Creative Rooms is an online content series that invites artists to share an intimate insight into their creative process, by showing the spaces they create in.
ELKAE is the electronic soul project of songwriter and producer Laura Keane. Dubbed “an exciting new force in the Irish music scene” by Hot Press, she has both a sold out headline show and a successful festival circuit under her belt (Electric Picnic, Other Voices, Indiependence, Bloom, All Together Now & We’ve Only Just Begun).
Combining funky old-school grooves and new and exciting electronic production, ELKAE has amassed listeners worldwide and been included on Spotify editorial playlists such as New Music Friday UK, Easy, Chilled pop hits, New Pop Revolution, & New Pop UK. Her debut EP ‘Girls Like You Like Me’ also caught the attention of BBC Introducing and West One Music Publishing, where she is currently signed.
Writing and producing her own music from her Dublin studio, ELKAE creates genre blending songs that are uniquely her. In 2022, we will see her continue to push boundaries and challenge herself creatively with a number of singles that solidify ELKAE as one to watch.
How important is it for you to have a dedicated creative space?
So important, I’ve noticed such an increase in my creative output since having this space set up. It’s really important for me to be able to access things really quickly while the ideas are still fresh in my head. I’m just doing music full time at the moment so having somewhere I can do that every day helps keep me disciplined.
What makes this space work for you?
I have everything set up in a really convenient way, so when I want to get going, I literally just have to plug 2 things into my laptop and press one button and everything is fired up and ready to go. I also recently bought a monitor screen and a bluetooth trackpad and keyboard and that’s way more comfortable to work on when I’m spending hours working as opposed to stretching over to a small laptop screen. I also love the privacy.
In what way(s) does this space influence your output?
Having it so accessible at all times, with minimal set up time makes it really easy to flesh out any idea I may have really quickly. Also I’ve the room set up with changing coloured lights so it can be really nice for setting certain moods, and creating a bit of a vibe. I also think the fact that it’s in my bedroom can make me feel really safe to be vulnerable and honest when it comes to writing and recording certain vocals, It’s great being able to capture the initial raw emotion in a vocal take as it’s write as opposed to trying to recreate that months later. Another perk is that I can work away into the early hours of the morning when most people are asleep, so it’s a great space to be able to sit into that inspiration with no interruptions.
What’s your favourite instrument/piece of kit? And why?
That’s a hard one, I’d have to go with my Nord Stage 2. I’ve been playing piano since I was about 5 so I’m used to real weighted keys feel and I was living abroad during covid and had to do without it and I got this cheap MIDI keyboard to use while I was away and it drove me insane! But also, as a producer, I couldn’t live without my laptop, I’ve built up quite a collection of plug ins and love nothing more than geeking out on them for hours!
What would make this space better for you?
I’d say having more space for starters. I’ve recently started producing for other artists and when I have them in for a session with other musicians, its a tight squeeze to say the least! We make it work but more room would be great. I’d also love to have a separate room or space for my studio set up that wasn’t my bedroom, there’s definitely perks to having it so close but on the days when I’m spending hours at it, I can feel the cabin fever start to set in having been in the same room all day. It also limits me to minimal gear, as there’d be no room to put anything else, but that might not be a bad thing as all my money goes on plug ins as it is!
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