Interview: Five Minutes with Elsa Barahona
At just 17, Spanish songstress Elsa Barahona has just shared her debut single ‘Enseñame’ produced by UK multi-platinum songwriter and producer Kiz Keyz. This dynamic youngster was raised in a family of creatives, immersed in both Spanish and Swiss culture, and her passion for music, dancing and acting, makes her a triple-threat force to be reckoned with in the electronic dance genre.
We pinned down the energetic young songstress for a chat about her forays into the world of music.
Set the tone for us. Why the arts?
I’ve loved music since a young age. Not only singing but dancing and acting. Sharing music and art gives me a sense of happiness and also embraces my culture!
Which comes first when you’re producing – the sound or the idea?
It depends on the session, but working with Kiz, we usually vibe out melodies, ideas and sounds before starting lyrics and production. With ‘Enseñame’ we found the idea word to make into a hook and then starting working the melodies, sounds and lyrics around the hook.
Does your material feature any collaborations?
Not as yet but we are working on this for the next or following releases!
What’s on your current playlist?
Everything from Dua Lipa to Grey to Shakira to Rosalia. I also love Zayn, Ava Max and Clean Bandit.
Tell us about the chemistry you have with your fans on stage.
I haven’t done many shows, but the few I have done in Mallorca have been fun and energetic. I’ve always sang covers so I’m really excited to share my first actual song.
What techniques do you experiment with to get your original sound?
That often comes down to Kiz when we are writing because in terms of sound design, he’s the man! I always do my best to give ideas and vibes he can bounce off but we eventually get there! Can’t wait to share the second record
Take us through a day in the recording studio.
Well, it starts with Kiz picking us up from our hotel and taking us to his studio. We get coffee and chat for a while before moving into the control room and setting up. We both have high energy and basically just enjoy ourselves until we have something. I’m in the booth after lunch usually when we have content written and a rough production vibe. The rest is the rest.
Was there a specific moment in your life where you thought, “this is what I want to do”?
When I was 10 or 11, I have this really fond memory of singing in a family party in Mallorca, my home and there’s I remember everyone clapping and smiling after I did my little performance. I’ve always just wanted to do this and now it’s finally happening!
What do you keep close by while you’re playing a set?
Water. Microphone. Haribo.
Any emerging artists on your radar?
Absolutely can’t wait till you hear Oceans next record!
What gets your creative juices flowing?
I would say they are always flowing, but it’s when I’m in a session and I hear a beat or an idea that I really love. I just go into it!
Take us through your collection of gear, tech or software that accompanies your creative expression.
Well, that’s quite limited to my old guitar and my first keyboard.
Breakdown the news for us: what can we expect from you this year?
Another record at least! Some cool visuals and hopefully a lot of engaging content from my world!
‘Enseñame’ is set for official release on Friday 12th April
Follow Elsa Barahona:
SoundCloud – Facebook – Twitter – Instagram – Spotify
