New To Hot Press: Elkae

Electro-soul artist ELKAE is an exciting new force in Irish music. With timeless vocals and killer beats, this funky singer/producer has headlined the Sound House and made it to Spotify’s ‘A Breath Of Fresh Éire’ playlist. And with only two singles out so far – 2018’s ‘Sold’ and the recent ‘I Feel’ – she’s just getting started.

Born into a musical family, ELKAE – AKA Laura Keane – decided that she wanted to sing professionally aged seven. With influences ranging from old-school legends Steely Dan and Chic to electro-pop heroes Alt-J, she released a steady stream of music throughout her teenage years. Soon, though, she found herself lost in the woods.

“I had a year of not knowing what I was doing,” ELKAE recalls. “I just kind of fell out of love with music.”

The singer treated this period of soul-searching as an opportunity for metamorphosis. Basing her new stage name on her initials, Laura Keane became ELKAE. To complement her new identity, she conjured a fresh sound: a vibe-y mix of dance music, jazz and ’70s funk.

“I stopped putting restrictions on myself,” says ELKAE of the transformation. “It’s 100% me now. It’s almost like Laura 2.0 – I transform into this person full of confidence and sass.”

For ELKAE, this reinvention has really moved the needle. On the horizon are a Whelans date; a new music video; festival dates at Electric Picnic, Bloom and Indiependence; and a “continuous stream” of fresh tunes music ready to drop. It should all ensure ELKAE has a brilliant 2019.
‘I Feel’ is out now.