ELLI K Discusses Her Latest Single ‘My Everything’ and More!

South Korean artist Elli K recently released her newest single called “My Everything.” Expanding her sound from this romantic track, Elli K collaborates with actor and singer Hunter Parrish (Weeds, This Is Us, Quantico), known for his stage performances as “Jesus” in Godspell and his Broadway debut as “Melchior,” in the Tony Award-winning hit musical Spring Awakening. Elli K and Hunter Parrish’s collaboration for “My Everything” is pure magic. With a blend of orchestral elements and sirene classic pop influences, the original single brings a refreshing tone and balance between the two vocalists and continues the message of love’s infinite forms. On top of such star power, the song was produced and recorded in Hollywood at Capitol Studios, where the stunning music video also takes place. The visuals illuminate the moments of love blooming into something strong.

“My Everything” brings Elli K closer to unleashing her full musical vision, Love Collage, and peels back a new layer to her perspective on love. Now, she is excited to announce a new song cover contest “Be My Everything”. Fans can upload a cover video of the Elli K and Hunter Parrish duet to YouTube or Instagram and enter to win many prizes. They include 2 round trip tickets to Seoul, Korea, and exclusive K-beauty Products.

Classically trained at a young age, Elli K expanded her repertoire to include many different genres, languages, and cultures. In over a decade, her music has captivated fans with her previous two albums Sonnet and A Garden of Her Own. Each record included songs in five different languages and genres ranging from traditional, to acoustic and ambient pop.

Elli K has been prolific in singing and producing records. She has been featured in the soundtracks of many major films and television shows such as OCN television series Watcher (2019), SBS television series Where Stars Land (2018), and Don’t Dare to Dream (2016). Elli’s remake of “Golden Slumber”, by The Beatles, was featured in the Korean blockbuster film Golden Slumber.

Learn more about Elli K in the following All Access interview:

Happy New Year! When it comes to your music, what are you most excited about for 2020?

Happy New Year to you too! I’m most excited about the release of my new EP “Love Collage.” There are many events and new content planned surrounding the EP this year.

Can you recall the moment when you thought you could be a musician? What do you think motivated you day in and day out?

Music and performance were always part of my life since I studied classical voice at a young age. However, I explored different genres of music to reach more audiences after I finished my studies in college. I am motivated every day with the gratitude that I can purse music for another day and all the gifts nature brings.

How do you think your hometown has influenced the kind of music that you make? If not, why is that?

In recent decades Korean music has gone several transformations leading to the current Kpop explosion. It exposed me to many different styles and genres of music. It opened my eyes and ears to different cultures, and it helps me to have the courage to pursue music in America.

Growing up, how important was music in your life? Were your family and friends supportive of this career choice? If you weren’t a musician today, what else could you see yourself doing?

I was always around music either studying or listening. I loved the classical masterpieces like Shubert’s lieder and pop songs like “Aubrey” by Bread. My friends and family were mostly supportive of my musical endeavors. Fortunately, I am able to pursue both of my dreams of being an artist and CEO of a media company in Korea. I would be a full-time entrepreneur and philanthropist if I wasn’t making music.

What has been the biggest surprise so far about making music your career? What has been an unexpected or welcome challenge to it all? What has been the best part of it all?

I must say that both the biggest surprise and the challenge has been producing this new EP “Love Collage.” My move to America from Korea was a big challenge in itself. It took a lot of courage and effort making an album, not in my native language, and the production had many good surprises including my collaboration with Hunter Parrish. Now that the EP is completed, I am so proud of the end result and I really wish more audience can enjoy and appreciate the artistry.

Let’s talk about your newest single, “My Everything.” What was the inspiration for this track? What was it like collaborating with Hunter Parrish on it? How did this happen to begin with?

“Love Collage” is the chronicle of a love story. Each song is a distinct experience of love, and “My Everything” expresses the peak moment of the love’s bloom, the happiest times. We had a wish-list of artists for the duet and Hunter was our top choice. He had the perfect voice for the song. His background in both Broadway and acting was perfect for the production. When we offered him the opportunity, Hunter caught on with the song and accepted the offer gracefully. It was like a dream working together with Hunter.

What was it like shooting the music video for it? How creatively involved with that process were you?

As a writer of the song and having been acting as the protagonist in cover art photoshoots, I felt the best way to capture the song’s essence in a video was to perform as myself. It was an honor shooting the music video for “My Everything” at the famed Capitol Studios in Hollywood.

Can you elaborate on the cover contest that you are having now for “My Everything”? How has it been going? What have the entries been like so far

Yes! You can make a cover video of “My Everything” with your loved ones and post it on social media: lovers, friends, family, young and old anyone can participate! We prepared great prizes for the winners including a chance to visit South Korea and wonderful K-beauty cosmetic items. There have been some amazing cover submissions and I hope to see your version too!

How would you say that this song compares to anything else that you have released in the past?

First of all, “My Everything” is in English (laugh). Most certainly this song has been the most lyrical meaning and this was the first duet I sang with a Hollywood actor. “My Everything” is very special and personal to me because I had a clear vision and direction of the songwriting process and this is the song that has the most of my personal touches in the entire EP.

What was it like re-creating Tony Bennet’s hit song, “The Shadow of Your Smile”? How did you pick that particular song to cover?

When we were planning the EP I wanted to include a cover. “Shadow of Your Smile” is a song I always loved, and the lyrics of the song was a perfect closure to an end of a love story I wanted to tell. This song is “the acceptance of breakup,” “freedom of soul,” and “the reverberation of love.” Leo Z, our music producer was particularly invested in arranging this song. I wanted to preserve the feel of the masterpiece but give my own flavor to it which Leo did an excellent job. The arrangement of the interlude of the song expresses waves of the feelings of solitude after a breakup so well.

When will you be releasing your upcoming EP “Love Collage”? What was it like recording this collection? Did anything surprise you about the overall process once you got into the studio?

“Love Collage” is released already and is streaming on your favorite music services. We are also releasing more content for the songs such as BTS (behind the scenes) videos and music videos for “Love” and “New Life.” Please follow me on Instagram and YouTube for updates. The recording process was such a joy and honor recording with the top engineers at Capitol Studios and Eastwest Studios in Hollywood. I was so grateful for the opportunity to record at the same spots where so many legends have stood before. The amount of detail from the selection of vintage microphones and recording techniques such as putting my vocals to a physical reverberation room in Capitol studios was an eye-opening experience.

Do you have any tour dates scheduled for this year yet?

Unfortunately, because of scheduling conflicts, I have not planned a detailed tour for this year yet but I am hopeful that I will be able to meet my audience in so many other ways.

How do you think you have grown as a musician since you first started making music? What if anything has stayed the same about your music-making process?

My love and passion for music have never withered since I started making music, but I had tremendous growth as an artist over the years. My appreciation for life and music has been growing and my purpose for my artistry is to have positive effects on my listener’s soul.

How do you feel about social media? What do you think social media has done for your career so far?

The world we are living in is changing constantly and so fast. Social media has its flaws, but it is a great tool to communicate with audiences. I want to utilize this to its full potential. I know artists are invested in reading and reacting to comments on social media for feedback and I too, try to respond to comments as much as possible. This is a very effective form of communication.

What musicians would you absolutely love to work with in the future?

I really don’t have any particular person set in mind, but it could be a singer, actor, producer, musician, even a photographer or movie director. I want their world and my world to collide and bring out a whole new world for the audience to experience. I am so excited about the future possibilities and opportunities.

If you could design your dream music video right now, what would it look like?

I want the people watching my videos to feel happiness and be comforted. I want to deliver this positive message of love through music and nature. I want to show more of the beauty of life and nature in my future videos.

Where would you love to hear a song of yours played?

In the morning by the bedside, at a mall, at a restaurant, on the radio, in a car, at Starbucks, I want my music to be played everywhere. I want my audiences to be comforted and feel loved through my music.

At the end of the day, what do you hope people take away from your music?

I believe in the power of music as life-giving energy for the soul. I want my listeners to feel comfort and warmth. Just as people feed on good food for healthy bodies, people must also feed on good music for healthy souls. Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything. I believe my artistry will do so to my audiences.