Elour- moved to New York City to pursue a career in musical theatre, but quickly discovered a love for writing and performing my own original music
Interview conducted on June 18, 2020
By Dan Locke
She is a singer/songwriter based in Minneapolis with diverse and evolving musical interests. Lately, I’ve performed mostly as a solo artist but really enjoy collaborating with fellow singers and musicians.
What is your upbringing?
I was born and raised in the small town of Madelia, in rural Minnesota. In some ways idyllic, in some ways isolating! As a half-Lebanese person in White Minnesota, I always felt like I was the “different” one. Singing, sports, and the outdoors all go way back with me.
How did you discover music?
I grew up listening to classical NPR with my Grandmother, NPR news (talk radio) with my Mother, and random Middle Eastern music with my father. My grandmother sang children’s tunes and church tunes with us as kids, and introduced me to a few musicals.
I sang “The Lonely Goatherd” at my grandpa’s funeral when I was 8, and my granduncle said I should have voice lessons, so I started getting lessons and singing art songs.
In my teens I was into Edina Howards, Whitney Houston, TLC and Salt n’ Peppa. My friends would often blast Alabama as we’d cruise around the country roads. I honestly didn’t even know any classic rock or singer songwriters like Joni Mitchell until my 20s.
How did you go from musical theatre to writing and performing your own music?
It took a long time. I never really thought about WHO was writing the music. I thought as a singer my job was to just perform and sing a song that was written either for a show or as an art song.
I secretly had tried to write a few times in my younger years, and then I wrote a song or two in my late teens, but I thought it was silly. My first boyfriend played guitar and I would sing a couple of tunes with him in college. After college, I learned a few chords and eventually wrote a song.
How did you get your first guitar and do you still have it?
My first guitar was my mother’s acoustic. I had found it as a kid but couldn’t play. It was after college that I asked for her guitar, and never returned it! I have it to this day, but play a different one these days, and have also added a couple of electrics (Gretsch and Fender).
What was your first performance at like?
I started doing open mics in NYC and then had my first little slot at Dempsey’s. I would “open” for my friend Michael Katz – and by open I mean play the four tunes that I had written. No one would show up to these performances but nonetheless I was so nervous!
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
I think the first song I tried to write was sort of a re-write of “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man” from Showboat, and I had this robotic way of singing it. I changed the melody and verses a bit also. I had my dad translate the lyrics into Arabic because I really wanted to have a piece of my roots in my song. I recorded it on a handheld recorder and I have no idea where it is! Ha!
How did you start the band?
I’ve started a couple of different bands and it’s truly hard to get players to stay around. Elour started with just me and a bass player. Later I found a drummer and then a guitarist. Now I typically try to play with just a drummer, but the players are ever-changing and I am open to that. I am also fine playing solo if need be. A band is like having a relationship and they aren’t always easy to keep going, so I try to be flexible.
How did the band did gets its name?
I took the “El” from Elizabeth and the “our” from Ghandour, and pronounce it as “allure.”
What is your favorite track on the album?
I think “The Look In Your Eyes” is just a good tune. It’s straightforward and it sounds good whether I play it on electric or acoustic. It also sounds good solo or with a band, and that’s how I know it’s a good tune.
How do you stay healthy while touring?
Unfortunately, I haven’t done a lot of touring, especially with Elour, but the key to staying healthy is not to overdo it partying!! Sometimes when you’re just doing a couple gigs its fun to whoop it up after a show but when you’ve got to get on the road and go to unknown venues, sleep and hydration is key!
Who designed your logo?
I decided how I was going to make the E look with just the three lines echoing back to the 90’s brand Esprit, and then my graphic design friend Bethany Price helped me make it a graphic.
Digital vs. vinyl?
I think digital is the way to do it. But of course vinyl is great, just not practical right now.
What are your feelings about the social uprising going on in the United States?
I struggle somewhat with my racial identity. Though I pass as white, with my mixed heritage I don’t, internally, entirely identify as white. So I feel emotionally close to this and struggle with what is an appropriate response for a white-looking non-white. I’m also physically close to this. I live a couple of miles from where George Floyd was murdered, and a couple of miles from where the fires and looting took place. I attended some of the Minneapolis demonstrations.
Though I’m uncertain of my role, I think the demonstrations and outrage make complete sense. There are major inequities that have been in existence for too long. I think this anger has been long in building and the need for actual change is long overdue. I’m glad that people are paying attention and hopefully real change will come.
As far as the property damage goes, I’m on board with a meme I saw on Facebook. It said that instead of saying, “It’s sad that George Floyd was killed, but it was wrong to damage property,” we should be saying, “It’s sad that property was damaged, but it was wrong to kill George Floyd.”
What song from the past is in your mind right now? And what is the meaning that song means to you?
It’s sad to say but I have had a lot less music in my head the last three months or so. Like I have become a little numb or something. I have to believe it’s because there is a general feeling of uneasiness. It’s like my mind is wandering more than it normally does but still there is a staleness.
In October, you are doing the Big Fat Love: Celebrating John Prine Birthday. Which was rescheduled. Do you have a word or two you would like to say about Mr. Prine?
John Prine was an amazing songwriter. A true story teller. That’s not news to anyone, but it’s the absolute truth, and it’s why he gets covered so much around here. I was really happy to be a part of that event. It’s too bad it had to be postponed. And of course it’s so sad that he died of COVID-19.
The last gig you were supposed to play (Aster Café) was cancelled. What were you thinking then?
I think I knew it was going to happen. It seems so long ago now. Like these last three to four months have moved at the speed of a year. It seems rather unimportant now and I think at the time I thought, “give it a month and things will be fine again.” Which obviously isn’t the case. Elour had had a few shows at The Aster prior to that, and the audiences were really receptive, so I do know I’d been looking forward to getting back on that stage!
How do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
I think it is going to be really bad for us folks who are on the bottom end in the music world. Getting good gigs were tricky before and now the competition is going to be even tougher because the big players have nowhere to perform either. Add to that the venues that have closed and I see a pretty tough time for quite a way ahead. Livestreams may stick around though. No one wants them to be their only gigs we have though.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
Quarantine started out well. I felt like, “Okay I’ll use this time to be super productive!” But after a week or so of that, I can say that I have been in a bit of a slump. I am trying to get out that place still.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
I’ve started to play tennis a bit. I used to play just for fun on our one court in my home town of Madelia, MN, but I recently made a friend who’s a really good player, so I got re-inspired!!!
Lots of people are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. And you did Elour Live. How was it?
I’ve been doing Facebook Live, switching between Elour and The Heighburners each week. I’ve pretty much done them since the beginning of quarantine. At first they were kind of fun. I chatted a bit to folks and had people tuning in that were from other cities, and people who have a harder time getting out. But now I am really missing the actual live performance and would honestly rather be performing for five people in real life than to continue just streaming.
Do you think it will be possible to make a living doing concerts this way?
Not for me, no. When and if things get back to normal, streaming may be a kind of extra “venue” to play once in a while, for people who don’t like to go out. But on the whole, it’s like everything else: it’s one of many sources of income that you hope, eventually, will all combine into something that makes your music self-sustaining. As we’re moving into the warmest part of the year, I don’t think streaming shows will be as appealing to a lot of folks.
First it was an article in the New York Times, then Rolling Stones talked about it and finally Live Nation CEO said that concerts may not start again until fall of 2021. Do you think this could happen?
Yeah, this seems to be the way things are going. All of the “reopening” of the economy has resulted in more cases of COVID-19. I think as people become more and more aware of that, they’ll be less and less willing to gather, much less pack into a venue. Until there’s a vaccine, it’s hard to imagine live shows being popular.
With Social Distance being the norm. Do you feel that it maybe the end of music fest for the next couple of years?
I think larger festivals won’t continue, but some smaller festivals with more of a “hippie” vibe, where the community is more important than the risk of illness, may continue.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
That could be fun as a new experience, but for me as a performer, it will never be as fun as a live show. It’s a “better Livestream,” but still a Livestream.
How do you see yourself in the next five years?
I’m not sure. This was the year I was really going to get my s*** together and tour and play all over and now that’s not an option. I really hope I can figure out a way to continue creating music and most importantly performing it!
Anything you would like to say in closing?
I just want to say thank you so much for taking the time to write informed and thoughtful questions. I truly appreciate those organizations and people that care about the lower level musician who aspires to be recognized. So thank you for that!
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