What is your name?
Ela Ozturk
What is your genre of music?
Soul and Pop
Give us a little bio about you.
My name is Ela Ozturk and I’m a Turkish-American singer-songwriter. I found my love for music at an early age and have been singing since I was two-years-old. I grew up surrounded by music and was encouraged by my late dad to sing, write, and perform. I started putting out music in 2020 and have been on my musical journey ever since.
What made you go into music?
I have always been a musician and a songwriter, but it wasn’t until 2020 that I started putting out music. I am a storyteller at my very core and have always felt things deeply. I feel the need to express my emotions and ideas to the world. Music is how I do that.
Who are your influences?
I pull from a variety of influences, but I am greatly inspired by strong soulful “Diva” singers such as the likes of Etta James, Aretha Franklin, and Diana Ross.
Are you signed?
I am currently an independent artist.
You released your new single ‘Roots’, tell us more about the single and the meaning behind the song.
Thank you for asking! My new single, “Roots,” was a breakthrough for me as an artist and songwriter. “Roots” focuses on rebuilding yourself after someone has broken your connection with who you are. “Roots” is a ballad that grows easily from pain to power, and the lyrics describe a comeback story. “I’m coming back to my Roots the me before you, the calm before your storm, the light before your darkness. I’m returning, I’m returning, back to my Roots, I’m coming back, I’m coming back, I’m coming back”. I wrote this song after experiencing heartbreak, and it helped me give myself the closure I needed to heal.
Describe the track in two words.
Soulful and Emotional.
What was the writing and recording process like?
I wrote the song in 10 minutes. It was the easiest song to write and the hardest song I’ve ever written. Easy to write because this song poured out of me as I was going through heartbreak at the time, and the hardest song for me to write because it was so vulnerable and honest. It was like doing self therapy. I recorded this song in my producer’s studio, and we finished it in a day. It was so fun to record this song because it felt so freeing to sing those words at the top of my lungs as I recorded the song a long time after I wrote it, so by the time I recorded it I had healed from the situation.
Who did you work with on the single?
I worked with two of my best friends and longtime collaborators, Morgan Clae Sanker and Tommy Sanker, who also helped direct and shoot the music video for “Roots.”
Will we see a music video for ‘Roots’ and if so what can we expect from the creative process?
Yes! We shot an amazing music video, and it comes out early December! The video shoot took 12 hours on set to complete, and we shot it in Los Angeles, California. The video is incredibly detailed and creative, and helps capture the storyline of the song beautifully.
Watch here
Will we see an EP or Album and if so, what can we expect from it?
Currently, I am focused on putting out more singles at the moment, but I am planning on releasing an EP in the next year or two.
What else can we expect in 2022?
For the remainder of 2022, I will be putting out lots of content and exclusive behind-the-scenes photos and videos from the Roots music video.
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
Good question! Five years from now, I see myself being a touring musician and working as a songwriter for other artists.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
“Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim.” —Nora Ephron, a writer. I love this quote because it encourages women to stand in their own power.
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
I love this question! I definitely need tea, my portable vocal steamer, a water bottle, my phone, and my lucky necklace.
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
Yes! I do
Official Website
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
TikTok
