Elle Jai has a rich voice that harkens to a time when Auto-tune was not the technology of the day. The honesty in her vocals resonates as she travels between the genres of blues, R&B, country and gospel. The Alabama resident describes herself as “Mississippi-bred and corn-fed,” an accurate description as her music is food for the soul. Rolling out recently spoke with Elle Jai about what her intentions are with respect to music and her new EP, Southern Soul.
When did you know you wanted to become a recording artist?
When I felt the crowd’s energy for the first time.
Your music feels like blues, R&B and soul. How would you describe your style?
Who would you say are some of your biggest musical influences and why?
Jazmine Sullivan because she’s unapologetically rare; Whitney Houston because [she] exuded class, talent and grace; all of the greats that came before me, and my idol, Maranda Curtis Willis.
What are your thoughts on the music industry in 2021?
It’s a business, so you better have a gimmick.
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