Elissa Janelle Velveteen is a singer-songwriter from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This is all taken from a live performance, and the sound is very impressive for being live. There are no second chances on stage, but Elissa Janelle Velveteen doesn’t need them. Everything is clear and vibrant from start to finish. It feels like being there, with the audience interaction and a little bit of side banter. This music is brutally, painfully honest and emotional. Every song on this album has a message.
The opening track, Nothing Gold sets the tone for the rest of this performance. The melodious and dreamy verses give out to an explosive chorus. Elissa Janelle Velveteen has a strong voice and uses it to fully engage not only the listener, but the audience as well. In the quiet moments, there is an enraptured silence that seems to cover all who stop to listen.
Doctor Fuller brings the mood back down, but it’s incredible how much power she can give to a kazoo. It’s infectious and proves one thing for certain, given any instrument Elissa Janelle Velveteen will find a way to make it work. Kazoo magic aside, this song also covers drug dependency and the way people sometimes get lost in the haze of pharmaceuticals. With enough pills, anyone may try to take up the Kazoo.
Sugar & Salt, god damn. If there ever was going to be a pop song that could outshine every shitty overproduced pop song on the mainstream market, this would be it. As a multi-instrumentalist/kazoo connoisseur, EJV shows off her piano skills in this song. It’s a little about calling out the way people act dependent on their vices to go do the things they want, and the way the world actually functions. It’s not viable to sit on your ass eating sugar and salt, and the shallow nature of society. It’s easy to be placated by those simple pleasures and be completely enraptured by whisky and pot. At least it will make the day go by a little easier. It’s a really beautiful song, and might be the one that hits on the most personal level.
Take me home is a song about being isolated. Wanting to retreat from the world and find a quiet place to be free of the inconsequential bullshit of the everyday. There’s a lot of really nice percussive guitar and finger-picking. 1963 Chevy C10 is another great track, it’s a little more anger and resentment. It’s one of the best songs on this recording, just go listen to it. I don’t want to set up any expectations, and it will leave quite an impression.
There’s a lot more here to talk about, but like most things it’s better to go in a little blind. Elissa Janelle Velveteen is a talented, insightful singer-songwriter. Take the time to listen to this music, these hooks and melodies will stick with you long after the show is over. It feels somewhat like sitting right there at the bar. Grab a drink or a smoke and climb aboard One Sunken Ship. You’ve got a first class ticket.
Listen here: https://elissajanellevelveteen.bandcamp.com/releases
Glory In Sound 