Musicians Featured: Josie Elysia

June 13th, 2022

Josie Elysia on the Community-Building Power of Music

Earlier this month, we connected with Windsor-based singer-songwriter Josie Elysia. Although she’s been involved with music for as long as she can remember, she first started writing music in 2020. Her debut song, Out of My Head, was inspired by her experiences during the pandemic - its honest lyrics and powerful chord progressions are sure to strike a chord with you, too.

Keep reading to learn more about how her music relates to her self-expression, her thoughts on how music can build community, and the inspiration that she finds in Fefe Dobson.

- Emily Weatherhead, Founder

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EW: To begin, I’d like to take it back to the beginning. How did you get started in music, and how did it lead you to where you are today?

JE: I’ve been involved in music for as long as I can remember! Growing up my family was very musical. My grandparents sang a lot in church and those gospel songs would make their way home and my mother sang in many bands when I was young that I got tag along with and watch preform. Around the time I started elementary school I began formally learning piano and vocal.

These experiences led me to where I am today because they instilled an early love for music! The songs I write now are written on my acoustic guitar rather than the piano, but I credit my background for knowing how to read music, string aesthetically pleasing chords together and stay on tune!

EW: What moments in life is your music made for?

JE: The moments in life my music is made for are the emotional ones. I’m a bit of an emo-kid! I grew up in the early aughts so I’m usually in my feels over the smallest things. The tone of my music tends to be a bit somber, or angsty and I think it’s because I have a harder time expressing negative emotions. They tend to get pent up and through music have found an outlet to finally be released into.

“When Fefe Dobson debuted in the rock world as a woman of colour, it made me feel accepted; like rock music was for everyone.”

EW: You’ve mentioned another one of our Featured Musicians, Fefe Dobson, as one of your musical inspirations. Can you share a bit more about why she inspires you?

JE: I’ve always loved rock music. The heavy guitars, the crooning vocals, the bass rifts and chaotic drums it is my happy place. But there weren’t a lot of people who looked like me in that scene, so I always felt like an outsider or a poser. Sort of like it was a guilty pleasure, or an aspect to my personality that ought not to have been front and centre. When Fefe Dobson debuted in the rock world as a woman of colour, it made me feel accepted; like rock music was for everyone. I feel silly saying this because it almost sounds like I’m being oversensitive, but I truly believe as a kid it is important to see yourself represented in the things you love most so you believe that you’re meant to be a part of those things.

“Music lets me take distressing situations, analyze them and my feelings, accept them and move on.”

EW: Your debut song, Out of My Head, was written during the COVID-19 pandemic. A lot of us turned to the arts during the pandemic as a form of comfort, as well as a form of catharsis. How did Out of My Head come to life?

JE: Out of My Head is written about my struggle with mental illness. The first part of the song to be written was the descending power chord progression that accompanies the chorus lyrics. At the time or writing, I felt like I was on the losing side of a battle with depression. My head would often be filled with anxiety riddled thoughts, or depressive numbness and that was the opposite to the way I am on a good day, so I really felt like I was being pushed out of my own head and being replaced by a stranger instead.

EW: Is there something about music that allows you to express yourself in a way that you might not otherwise?

JE: I think music allows me to say things that are uncomfortable! I’m not a very confrontational person and I’m not the best as expressing negative emotion in a constructive way. Music lets me take distressing situations, analyze them and my feelings, accept them and move on.

“Music can be enjoyed by anyone and everyone.”

EW: Getting into the community side of things, how do you think that music can build community and connect us?

JE: Music can connect people across different generations, languages, classes, ethnicities, cultures and beliefs. I think it helps to promote diversity and acceptance because regardless of our differences music can be enjoyed by anyone and everyone.

EW: What’s your favourite part about playing live music to an audience? Can you describe what that moment of connection is like for you?

JE: I’m still pretty new to the music scene so I haven’t played to many live shows. My favourite part so far is seeing the audience enjoying themselves. Often times when I start out I’ll sing with my eyes closed – weird I know!- I think it’s because I’m nervous. Once I’ve got my groove and I’m more comfortable and my heart’s not beating out of my chest, I like looking into the crowd.

I love seeing people smiling, or nodding along to the beat. Little things like that let me know that they’re having a good time. That’s when I start to relax and I have a good time too! That moment of connection is so tranquil it’s almost surreal. It’s like time slow down just for that moment and I bask in the glow of their positive energy... and just like that it’s over and I’m back in to singing, to strumming my guitar but instead of being nervous now I’m just enjoying the feeling, riding the high.

“Every time barriers are removed and a wider audience of people are allowed to participate in a given activity, the activity becomes more competitive, resulting in a better output.”

EW: Do you have any final thoughts on why it’s important to make music more accessible to communities?

JE: I think it’s important to make music more accessible because by diversifying it, music will only become more interesting! Every time barriers are removed and a wider audience of people are allowed to participate in a given activity, the activity becomes more competitive, resulting in better output. So, I think that the more accessible we make music the better it will get!

EW: Thank you so much for your time and for answering these questions! Is there anything else you’d like to share with our audience, or share about what’s coming next for you? We’d love to hear more about your upcoming song, The Cave!

JE: Thank you for having me! The Cave is set to be released mid-June. I’m really excited about this song. It incorporates my love of philosophy with my passion for music – who said philosophy degree were useless!? This summer I’ll be releasing more music and collaborating with artists like Heidi Richards and Solomon’s Architects. Fans can keep up with me on IG at @JosieElysia or Facebook @JosieElysiaMusic!