Hayley interviews Elke for Nylon Mag

Celebrating the release of Elke’s new studio album, Divine Urge, Nylon Magazine published an interview Hayley Williams made with Elke. The publication contains photos taken by Zac Farro. Click HERE to read it full.

This one’s maybe an easy question, but melodies or words first for you?

I want to say words. I write words first, and then, as I write them, they have a beat to them. You know what I mean? It’s like lyrics and rhythm at the same time, and then melody shortly after.

Let’s say that this is for music fans that have never heard you before. So if you’re making a first impression on a listener with Divine Urge, what’s the impression ultimately that you would love to make?

I basically want other people to experience freedom. The impression is I want people to do anything that their mind wants to do, just have no hesitation, and know that all ideas are cool ideas. Be vulnerable, and sound stupid, look dumb. Just go out and try everything you want to do.

What is a brand-new-to-you influence that you are just now sinking your teeth into as an early-30-something?

I’ve discovered Fiona Apple, but I almost discovered her personality first and what she struggled with. I’ve recently been diagnosed with three different disabilities.

OK, we’re rounding down to the final questions. And I want to say, we obviously met because you love my best friend in the whole world, Zac Farro. One of my favorite things is how you guys met. You actually met him while our band was on a hiatus. And you didn’t see him or us perform for years! Could you please tell the crowd how you guys met?

I met Zac at a time when I was not looking for anything whatsoever. Once we clicked, we were at a bar, and somehow, it’s like we almost woke up from a haze of dreaming, and we’re like, “Oh my gosh,” and we hung out for days in New York City, and he called me Bubba. And I was maybe not going to go hang out with him the night after we hung out. And he called me, he’s like, “How are you, Bubba?” And I was like, “Oh my God, I’m hanging out with you.” The fact that he called, there was something about that.