ellee ven

This Spanish, Greek, Russian, Italian and German DIY artist, Ellee Ven (born Jessica Lazaro Kunin) is known for her dance jams and ballads and her new music-spread mostly through word of mouth and adoring DJ's-never dissapoints fans.

Check out ellee ven on pg 63 in Curve Magazine this month

: ) - Curve Magazine

When she was conducting business in her "other" home — Los Angeles — Ellee Ven began searching for a way for her favorite music to ignite a fun night of artistic philanthropy.

And so Give Into the Groove was born. The idea was, in essence, a benefit without strings. No admission was to be charged. Instead, selected organizations would send representatives, distribute information about their community work, gain a few friends and volunteers, and perhaps raise some money. The backbone of the event, though, was music — an entire evening's worth.

"Producing something like this is a lot easier than it seems," said Ven, a Los Angeles native who works most of the year on the West Coast, developing her recording and performance career while maintaining a home in Lexington. "After all, people want to do good for their community. That's always the promise. People enjoy being purposeful."

Ven's first three Give Into the Groove projects were staged in Los Angeles and benefited organizations including the local chapter of the American Red Cross and the Los Angeles Free Clinic.

The inaugural Lexington Groove-fest was staged last fall at The Red Mile's Round Barn. The event moves downtown Friday to the Atomic Cafe

"We had a few hundred people, a respectable turnout, last year," Ven said. "But the Round Barn is a destination venue. You have to know that something is happening out there, whereas with the Atomic Café, people are already going to be there. Some people may even happen upon the event that haven't even heard about it."

That's highly likely given that downtown will be hosting a Gallery Hop at the same time.

If people stumble in, they will have performances to take in by Lexington favorites Big Fresh and Otto Helmuth, plus an appearance by Isabella Begley, winner of the Little Miss Bluegrass Area pageant. Ven also will showcase some of the pop electronica from her new album, Dangerous Diversion, with help from West Coast rapper Prodeje.

Among the local and regional organizations that Give Into the Groove is designed to help this year: Local First Lexington, Hope Center, Actors Guild of Lexington, Lexington Humane Society, Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden, and Louisville's Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft.

"The thing that's crazy is that people are more apt to be generous to organizations at events like this than when you say, 'Admission is $50.' That's when you have people going, 'Oh, I didn't get enough crumpets' or 'It was too crowded to get to the champagne line.'

"What's fun about this event is that the vibrations are always so great. That just seems to be a catalyst for other fun things where people get inspired to help their community."

For Ven, though, Give Into the Groove isn't just an opportunity to help the community. It's a chance to get to know it better. Aside from last year's Groove event and shows at venues like Al's Bar, Ven hasn't performed much locally. So how is it that an artist versed in the fast-lane music frenzy of Los Angeles found her way to Lexington?

The connection goes back to Ven's college days at Pepperdine University. She made friends with several students from Central Kentucky and began making regular visits here in the mid-'90s.

"I'm from Los Angeles, my family is from Los Angeles and there is an endless access to musicians and production resources in Los Angeles," Ven said. "But there is also so much competition there. Even if there are a million things you're doing well, there are always people around to tell you everything that you're doing wrong. It's just a different sort of climate there.

"Since I had some flexibility in my life and met people in Lexington from college, I began going back and forth between the two cities. I always said if a house came up that I could get my hands on, I would grab it. And one did. And I love it here.

"So now I'm just happy to be able to share my fun times with the community that I'm totally growing to love." - Lexington Herald-Leader

Not just a number


Changing her name to ellee ven
-- after the number 11 -- leads to
subtle transformation for
the rising singing star



By John Berger
jberger@starbulletin.com


ellee ven
Where: Wave Waikiki, 1877 Kalakaua Ave.
When: 10 p.m. today and tomorrow
Admission: $10, 18 and over (21 and over tomorrow)
Call: 941-0424

A rose, by any other name, still smells sweet, but a change of name can give an aspiring entertainer a new identity with no strings attached. And so it is that a former teacher with a graduate degree in education is playing the Wave Waikiki tonight and tomorrow in her seductive persona of ellee ven.

"It gave me the freedom to create something," ellee ven (born Jessica Kunin) explained.

"When people ask 'Who are you like?,' and you've only written two songs, what are you like? It's too early to make any sort of decision, and felt with the whole 'ellee ven' thing, I would create this theme and everything I created would support the theme (and) there'd be no expectations. Nobody can go back and change things. I couldn't change back that I got married... but I could change my future."

Kunin's stage name is a play on the number 11, which she describes as "representing two equals in perfect union" and, thus far, it's been a winning formula. Songs from her 2001 debut album, "The Eleventh Hour," have already been heard on the TV drama "Judging Amy" and several MTV shows. Two songs from her second album, "Mind Control," put her on the now-defunct mp3.com and mainstream Adult Contemporary charts in 2003.

Now she's embarking on a bigger project. "eleven by ellee ven," a double-disc CD/DVD release, will be released next month. It's going to be marketed as a DVD with a bonus CD.

"At this point, it's more the established artists who are putting out DVDs as a reflection of their catalog of work, and a lot of newer artists don't have that yet. So I'll be one of few newer artists on those shelves (in the DVD section)."

BUT HOW DID Jessica Kunin, who graduated from Pepperdine University with a Masters in education, make the transformation to a post-modern chanteuse specializing in a musical blend she calls "groovetonics"?

A quote from Henry David Thoreau -- "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you imagined," -- is part of the story behind her metamorphosis.

"I came across that about four years ago, and it really seemed to renew my focus and my commitment to my artistic world. It's difficult to remain committed sometimes to something that isn't really profitable financially, even if it is (fulfilling) in other ways. I was at a standstill, doing a lot of temping, and a lot of other work that just really wasn't satisfying, and it reminded me about the commitment to my goal."

Kunin also credits her father, a businessman who "won a lot and lost a lot," with teaching her that success is often a matter of making an informed commitment to a project and then seeing it through. She first became involved with the music business by helping friends promote their bands -- handing out flyers, organizing events, doing simple video projects -- but after looking at the probable start-up costs for her own indie label, she decided to that she'd be better off teaching. She also got married, a decision she describes as "a personal disaster."

"All of a sudden, I felt like I was just settling in so many areas of my life, and nine months later, I decided, 'Nope, I'm doing an about-face and I am going to do what I really want to do.

"One of the most important things to communicate is that everything is a process and, again, it's my stick-to-it-tiveness thing. I had no idea if I could write a song but I knew that I loved music ... and I knew I wanted my own label and I liked promoting people, but the ellee ven thing didn't come about until after I knew that it was a business where I would constantly be interested and stimulated in."

The term "groovetonics" is also intended to catch the ear as well as soothe the soul.

"It makes you move and it makes you feel better. It can be a slower song, it can be a faster song, it's just meant to affect you, and that's the other thing about the creation of the ellee ven name. You cannot limit yourself before you begin, and the one thing that is totally thought out in the theme of my writing and in my project is that I do want to make people feel better, and I do want to move people." - Honolulu Star- Bulletin

Groovetronics: That’s how electronic/dance act Elle Ven personifies her
musical signature: a fusion of rock, pop, rap and electronica. Somehow, the
mesh of seemingly disparate elements unifies for an upbeat ethereal grab bag
of tribal beats and treats, accompanied by Ven’s dreamy, girlish vocals,
which lie somewhere between Stacey Q and Everything But the Girl’s Tracey
Thorn. Seventh full-length CD “Her Wildcat Lovin Majesty”— featuring
accompaniment from Antony Lee on guitars, Jorge Villanueva on drums and
Mikhail Davies on bass—is vast in its stylistic presentation, from the
trippy, trance-inspired “Under My Skin” and dark, Depeche Mode-conjuring
“Signals” to blippy ‘80’s-reminiscent “What Am I Running From,” rock/rap jam
“Next To You” (featuring a rap from Prodéje) and stripped-down acid
flashback “Wonder Where These Roads Will Lead.” The common theme throughout
is a positive, mood-enhancing flow, suited to Saturday nights in
clubland—acknowledged by Ven’s recognition with a nod as Artist of the Year
at the 2009 South Bay Music Awards and winner of the 2008 Los Angeles Music
Awards’ Electro Pop Artist of the Year. Who needs chemical enhancement? Elle
Ven’s “Majesty” is one fervent elixir. - Billboard Discoveries

Artist: ELLEE VEN

Album: Mind Control
The Scoop: Pop music has sunk to such a low that it seems remarkable when one of its practitioners had a life before joining the ranks of the music business. We’ve become so accustomed to teenybopper stars and Mickey Mouse Club grooming that writers have tended to latch on to the fact that ellee ven was once a Pepperdine graduate (and, later, a teacher) named Jessica Kunin. Like the potty-mouthed sensation Peaches, Ms. Kunin abandoned the classroom in favor of the studio (after teaching credentials, the parallels between the two artists screech to a halt). She changed her name and focused her energies into Hot Sauce Records, the label she began in college. In a world of endless Britneys and (gag) Pinks, the most recognizable shoes on Mind Control are Sade’s; the stuff of midnight martinis and massage tables. ven has a breathy, sultry voice that lends itself well to gentle grooves and floating choruses. “Feels Like Somethin New” is the best example of this, an end-of-the-day jam with a great hook and lots of easy soul. But what kept me returning to the album – and I should here confess that I typically don’t enjoy this genre of music – were the collaborations with DJ Swamp, who stirs up some frantic jams easily on par with the bulk of material currently bumpin’ in your club and on your radio dial.



Highlight Tracks: “Feels Like Somethin New” and “Wasted”

For More Info: Check out http://www.elleven.com - suite101.com

Dance Music / Electronica

Ellee Ven - Funky Bohemia

From Jimi Bruce
Elleeven-th Floor

I often review music as I discover America on long road trips. So it was on a recent one when I auditioned "Funky Bohemia" from new artist (at least to my ears) ellee ven [Hot Sauce Records HSR 0511]. According to her military-sounding "Communications Director" (how bout "publicist"?) Josie Mora, the name is pronounced "el-eeh-ven rhymes with ten." Did ya get that? Me neither.

So on the road while listening to it, the first mental note I made was that she reminded me of Lisa Stansfield vocally. Why was I not surprised when I read elleeven's bio that Lisa was listed as one of her influences? Hey, this is a good thing! Every artist needs an inspirational focal point. Stansfield was one of my and late good friend Frankie Crocker's faves back in the day as the eighties turned into the nineties! I know he'd be playing this CD if he were alive (and probably programming a satellite radio station) today.

"Funky Bohemia" starts out creeping at'cha with a bassy jam called "Pushing Me." Next it is onto the iron maiden with the strident "Proved My Power," laced by 'Ven's silky vocalizations. The mood is euro-deep here, so it is no wonder that soon the music sends us "Spiraling" (cut three, boys and girls) into the disc's first eardrum-pounding funky beat.

Just try to "Silently/Scream" (track four), and if you don't catch a hernia, surely we will have been around the world, not finding our baby. There is plenty of hit material here, especially on "Labyrinth of Love", the title of which blows me away as a wordsmith. It is a ballad again worthy of another of her shapers, Sade and even more so on track ten, "I Realize" which again, is Stansfield-ish likewise utilizing only a drum beat against her lyrical gangsta – a groovy combination of successful sounds that need to be perpetuated, in my opinion.

But why "Bohemia"? Is she from the Czech Republic? Not at all, according to Josie, who apparently speaks on her behalf, "ellee ven is Spanish, Greek, Italian, Russian, and German [all of the Romance languages, I guess] and she wanted to purposely combine all of her influences to express what she thinks is reflective of her experiences." 'Works for me.

The album should have been called "Under My Skin" though. With the many remixes of the "elleeventh" track, it is obvious to this reporter that it is the stalwart of the sessions. They all have the potential to be pop/rock fusion hits in their own right, but mainly serve to extend the disc's life. Potentially the Tabasco of the dance floor and airwaves, her haunting delivery soothes as she croons the groovetronics. Now that's coining a phrase or terminology for ya, which exposes a fun side to all this headiness in song.

Not only do they have a promotional contest to entice purchase of the CD – a Hollywood vacation - but this former school teacher promotes sexy education on tour. As Josie relates it, "we have ellee ven condoms, people always get a kick out of [them]; while on tour in Reno, the [hotel] bell guy told me that he got lucky that night and was grateful that he had received one of them." Geez, when is she coming to my hometown? (Smiles)

DJs will want to have this one in their CD cases as well as club-minded party goers. Finally, since there is already a Lisa S., I pray that ellee will continue to develop her own identity and performance persona with ensuing projects so that she can take us with her as she steps up to the next landing. This I believe she is already on the road to actualizing when she says her motto is "to be the best self and living the life that you imagined; nobody can change yesterday, but everybody can start today and change tomorrow." That is a theme concurrent with many conversations I have with friends and strangers as we attempt to settle the world these days. The website, www.elleeven.com has neat info not covered here, by the way. So on those funky Bohemic notes, I am empowered to bless this CD with four stars.

- About.Com

December 4, 2008
SOUND BITES ~ little nibbles of recent releases
CD Reviews
By Rob Swick

Dangerous Diversion ~ by: ellee ven

ellee ven stares starkly from the cover, with the assured gaze of an ice queen, a prima donna, and perhaps even a potential Madonna. She's a woman with good times, bad times, and street-beat rhymes on her mind, and she wrote and produced all eleven tracks herself (hmm, eleven – perhaps a significant number to Ms. ven?), working on this disk with veteran rapper Prodéje. The album is a study in contrasts, as ellee melds her own airy, melodious vocals with Prodéje's down-and-dirty, rapid-fire rappin', for a blend that's bold in its insistence on making those two divergent threads come together and play nice. “Here” is a guitar-driven cut of she-rock, “Sorry's Not Enough” alternates ellee's pop-phrased admonitions with Prodéje's manly efforts to restore a damaged relationship, and so it goes. “Hold On To Me” is a gangsta love song, much like the title track that follows, while “Just Another Thing” and “Uncover You Remix” are more misty pop. “Further Away” has a synth-based texture, and a wistful, lingering melody with entrancing appeal, showing off ellee's voice to best effect. Overall, ellee ven delivers a blend that will reach those who appreciate both competent rap and polished pop music. elleeven.com


- ALL ACCESS MAGAZINE

December 4, 2008
SOUND BITES ~ little nibbles of recent releases
CD Reviews
By Rob Swick

Dangerous Diversion ~ by: ellee ven

ellee ven stares starkly from the cover, with the assured gaze of an ice queen, a prima donna, and perhaps even a potential Madonna. She's a woman with good times, bad times, and street-beat rhymes on her mind, and she wrote and produced all eleven tracks herself (hmm, eleven – perhaps a significant number to Ms. ven?), working on this disk with veteran rapper Prodéje. The album is a study in contrasts, as ellee melds her own airy, melodious vocals with Prodéje's down-and-dirty, rapid-fire rappin', for a blend that's bold in its insistence on making those two divergent threads come together and play nice. “Here” is a guitar-driven cut of she-rock, “Sorry's Not Enough” alternates ellee's pop-phrased admonitions with Prodéje's manly efforts to restore a damaged relationship, and so it goes. “Hold On To Me” is a gangsta love song, much like the title track that follows, while “Just Another Thing” and “Uncover You Remix” are more misty pop. “Further Away” has a synth-based texture, and a wistful, lingering melody with entrancing appeal, showing off ellee's voice to best effect. Overall, ellee ven delivers a blend that will reach those who appreciate both competent rap and polished pop music. elleeven.com


- ALL ACCESS MAGAZINE

Ellee Ven - Project 11 Volume 3

"Underneath My Pillow" and "Pushin Me" are the featured singles on this CD. There are five remixes of "Underneath…" and four mixes of "Pushin Me". There are a couple of remixes from Chris Brophy, aka Infect'ive (both "Underneath..." and "Pushin Me"). I enjoy his remixes on this CD the most. His work is a blend of Full Intention meets David Morales. I've been a fan of his work for many years now and am always on the lookout for anything with his name on it. There are additional remixes from Trypsin, whose mixes (both songs) have an electro-trance feel to them. Steven Seidita's remix of "Underneath…" has a slightly harder sound to it with a continuous driving beat. The DJ Scotty Boy remix of "Underneath…" is a dub that has an electro-progressive sound to it. Both songs are very melodic and trance sounding in nature. I say this often, but it amazes me how remixers take a vocal and can make a song sound completely different.
My favorite on this CD is the Infect'ive remix of "Pushin Me." I just love the production and sounds he used in this one. I think that they compliment the vocals perfectly.



http://dancemusic.about.com/od/reviews/fr/ElleeVenP11V3.htm
- www.about.com

Ellee Ven - Project 11 Volume 3

"Underneath My Pillow" and "Pushin Me" are the featured singles on this CD. There are five remixes of "Underneath…" and four mixes of "Pushin Me". There are a couple of remixes from Chris Brophy, aka Infect'ive (both "Underneath..." and "Pushin Me"). I enjoy his remixes on this CD the most. His work is a blend of Full Intention meets David Morales. I've been a fan of his work for many years now and am always on the lookout for anything with his name on it. There are additional remixes from Trypsin, whose mixes (both songs) have an electro-trance feel to them. Steven Seidita's remix of "Underneath…" has a slightly harder sound to it with a continuous driving beat. The DJ Scotty Boy remix of "Underneath…" is a dub that has an electro-progressive sound to it. Both songs are very melodic and trance sounding in nature. I say this often, but it amazes me how remixers take a vocal and can make a song sound completely different.
My favorite on this CD is the Infect'ive remix of "Pushin Me." I just love the production and sounds he used in this one. I think that they compliment the vocals perfectly.



http://dancemusic.about.com/od/reviews/fr/ElleeVenP11V3.htm
- www.about.com

Despite what people may think, writing for an up and coming music magazine is not all glamour and joy. Plenty of times the hours suck and our editor/publisher has the nickname “Slave Master” for a very good reason... But the totally coolest perk is that I get to meet cool ass people all the time. And I don’t want to lead you wrong; not every musician or vocalist is cool just because they happened to be musically talented. But the ones that are cool, are very, very cool, with their shit together in a way that makes you buzz with energy and leaves you wanting to go out and conquer the world yourself.That’s the closest I can come to explaining my experience interviewing ellee ven. ellee ven, artist and owner of Hot Sauce Records, has a style of music that’s hard to place. A quote from her website, www.elleeven.com, compares her music to “indulgences such as martinis and massage tables, and artists like Bjork, Lenny Kravitz, Lisa Stansfield, and Sade.” The sound combines elements from rock, pop, electronica, and dance to create something totally sensual, original, and provocative. And then there’s ellee herself— well, I guess you have to read the interview to see what I mean.

I have to tell you, I started off by reading your bio online and there was that part that compared your music to “indulgences such as martinis and massage tables” and I thought, oh my God, how friggin’ pretentious... And then I listened to your newest CD, Funky Bohemia, and I was just blown away, especially by the song Under My Skin. We have that video on the UNSIGNED website and I really love it. Your music has this real sensual feel; it’s definitely an indulgence.

Thank you! (laughing) You’ve just made my whole day. I mean really, that’s the pay off, to hear that someone really enjoys it!

One of the things I really like about your music is that it’s very original; you mix all these different elements, but you can’t really be labeled as one thing—I mean, I don’t consider you to fit the definition of electronica or dance music or even pop. I suppose that’s why you coined the phrase “groovetonics?”

I didn’t want to be a particular genre. I just want my music to be affective—to affect you. Groovetonics is supposed to make you move and to make you feel better. It’s that simple.
So tell me, how did you go from getting a Master’s Degree in Education at Pepperdine to owning your own label?

I sorta tiptoed in it at the beginning of my college career because I became friends with this band called Black Dread. They were friends of mine and I loved their band and started promoting them for fun. I’d do all the flyers, promote them, and do the door and deal with the bookers and that kind of stuff. This is when indie studios were starting to get prominent and my friends were like, if anyone could do it, you could do it. So I tried for a minute, but ultimately you see there’s this financial investment to it and these guys were cool, but not like—let me invest my entire life into them... so I closed the doors at that time, then I finished my masters, became married and divorced really fast and then I decided—I love music. You know, you read all these books that say where do you feel your happiest, where do 20 hours become one? And for me, it’s definitely in production and in music. I’m at my office all day long if I’m not recording or writing and I love it. I love it probably more than anything in the whole world, every part of it. So I decided to re-open the doors again to Hot Sauce Records. And then I met this person and we had this conversation and I said, I want to be in music. I did a little bit of musical theater and I have this record label experience and I want to try to write, but I live in Los Angeles and what if I suck? He hooked me up with these people in Minneapolis. He says to me, “they’re totally nice and you can stay there and there’s no need to be fearful.” So I went there and then five days later, I had three new songs. Like right away—it was so great, a totally out of this world experience and that’s how I did my first album For Your Love.
And that’s how it started.

And how did you come up with your name?

Well, we had this lunch and we were brainstorming names for me because my real name is Jessica and basically my whole name is conservative and not very theatrical. When I left my husband, I moved into this apartment eleven-eleven and that’s where the whole ellee ven came from. It was like this magical thing, this new beginning. I sorta saw the idea that the eleven is like hanging out with people who are equal. You know, if you’re a number one and you’re your best, strong and tall, then stand next to someone who’s also strong and tall and together you’ll be indivisible. That whole visual we thought was cool and nobody had it. We made it sort of French by doubling the L’s and the E’s.

And it’s pronounced?

People always ask that (laughing), but it’s really pronounced phonetically the way it’s spelled. Ven r - Unsigned Music Magazine

I recently met someone through the Internet. She’s funny, smart, and I really enjoy talking to her. The problem is I suspect she’s a stalker. I saw her parked across the street from my house late one night. Am I getting in over my head?
—Karl, Los Angeles

ellee ven: I say, RUN LIKE THE WIND. If you suspect it, it’s probably true. If you didn’t invite her over, there’s no reason for her to be across the street. Boundaries are healthy and so is “real-life” dating. Get off the computer and shake it down in your neighborhood because there is no substitute for the real thing.

Love Doc: Hmm … parked across the street late at night? Yeah, I’d say that’s pretty creepy. Especially if you’ve been friendly with her and she knows she can easily make a date to see you. Sounds like she’s one of those “late night drive-by-ers” – constantly checking up on you, what you’re doing and who you’re doing it with. She obviously has major trust issues, so my advice is to stay away. Way away. And don’t forget to take her off your buddy list and block her SN!




A couple years ago, I stopped trusting guys. Someone very close to me just walked out one day without even saying goodbye (my older brother). My family also has extremely bad luck with people walking out on each other. I’m afraid to let people get close to me, but I don’t want to be alone. What should I do?
—Andrea, Van Nuys

ellee ven: My advice is to focus on the brilliance of your own mission. There are many uncertainties in life. The fact is, people change; people fall off bridges. You can not prevent certain things from happening but you can stop yourself from being negative. You can decide to surround yourself with healthy, positive people who encourage you to be your best – and then, do your best. Do not be scared in life. If you think everything is doomed, then it will be. Believe in the perfect moment and it will be!

Love Doc: Well Andrea, there is no guarantee in life that says if you’ve been walked out on before, it won’t happen again. It’s just like my high school algebra teacher used to say, “Life is unfair.” It’s true. Once you realize that, you’ll feel a lot better. But for some real advice as opposed to Zen philosophies, I’d say, put your fears aside, remember that each person is different, and keep open communication with everyone in your life. That way, if someone wants to walk out on you, they’ll at least have the decency to tell it to your face.




I’ve been with my girlfriend for five months now. She has a pretty good job and doesn’t seem to worry about money. I lost my job about two months ago and am really strapped for cash. The problem is, whenever we go out, she still expects me to pay for her. How can I tell her I can’t afford to pay for her without feeling like a big loser?
—George, Encino

elle ven: It’s 2004 already! What’s important is that you are in a relationship where you can be honest during your ups and your downs. If she can’t understand that without a job you have less money, I’m not sure what to say. If she loves you she may not care where you eat. Why not go for a picnic or make Top Ramen? Mac & Cheese even (if you don’t have a dairy intolerance). Show her you can be creative without spending money; that’s sexy. If that doesn’t work, find yourself another stripper.

Love Doc: Just say, “Since I lost my job, I’ve been really low on cash. Can you be my sugar mama? I’ll be your love slave in return.”Who knows? If it works, you’d be a winner all around.

- Campus Circle

Despite what people may think, writing for an up and coming music magazine is not all glamour and joy. Plenty of times the hours suck and our editor/publisher has the nickname “Slave Master” for a very good reason... But the totally coolest perk is that I get to meet cool ass people all the time. And I don’t want to lead you wrong; not every musician or vocalist is cool just because they happened to be musically talented. But the ones that are cool, are very, very cool, with their shit together in a way that makes you buzz with energy and leaves you wanting to go out and conquer the world yourself.That’s the closest I can come to explaining my experience interviewing ellee ven. ellee ven, artist and owner of Hot Sauce Records, has a style of music that’s hard to place. A quote from her website, www.elleeven.com, compares her music to “indulgences such as martinis and massage tables, and artists like Bjork, Lenny Kravitz, Lisa Stansfield, and Sade.” The sound combines elements from rock, pop, electronica, and dance to create something totally sensual, original, and provocative. And then there’s ellee herself— well, I guess you have to read the interview to see what I mean.

I have to tell you, I started off by reading your bio online and there was that part that compared your music to “indulgences such as martinis and massage tables” and I thought, oh my God, how friggin’ pretentious... And then I listened to your newest CD, Funky Bohemia, and I was just blown away, especially by the song Under My Skin. We have that video on the UNSIGNED website and I really love it. Your music has this real sensual feel; it’s definitely an indulgence.

Thank you! (laughing) You’ve just made my whole day. I mean really, that’s the pay off, to hear that someone really enjoys it!

One of the things I really like about your music is that it’s very original; you mix all these different elements, but you can’t really be labeled as one thing—I mean, I don’t consider you to fit the definition of electronica or dance music or even pop. I suppose that’s why you coined the phrase “groovetonics?”

I didn’t want to be a particular genre. I just want my music to be affective—to affect you. Groovetonics is supposed to make you move and to make you feel better. It’s that simple.
So tell me, how did you go from getting a Master’s Degree in Education at Pepperdine to owning your own label?

I sorta tiptoed in it at the beginning of my college career because I became friends with this band called Black Dread. They were friends of mine and I loved their band and started promoting them for fun. I’d do all the flyers, promote them, and do the door and deal with the bookers and that kind of stuff. This is when indie studios were starting to get prominent and my friends were like, if anyone could do it, you could do it. So I tried for a minute, but ultimately you see there’s this financial investment to it and these guys were cool, but not like—let me invest my entire life into them... so I closed the doors at that time, then I finished my masters, became married and divorced really fast and then I decided—I love music. You know, you read all these books that say where do you feel your happiest, where do 20 hours become one? And for me, it’s definitely in production and in music. I’m at my office all day long if I’m not recording or writing and I love it. I love it probably more than anything in the whole world, every part of it. So I decided to re-open the doors again to Hot Sauce Records. And then I met this person and we had this conversation and I said, I want to be in music. I did a little bit of musical theater and I have this record label experience and I want to try to write, but I live in Los Angeles and what if I suck? He hooked me up with these people in Minneapolis. He says to me, “they’re totally nice and you can stay there and there’s no need to be fearful.” So I went there and then five days later, I had three new songs. Like right away—it was so great, a totally out of this world experience and that’s how I did my first album For Your Love.
And that’s how it started.

And how did you come up with your name?

Well, we had this lunch and we were brainstorming names for me because my real name is Jessica and basically my whole name is conservative and not very theatrical. When I left my husband, I moved into this apartment eleven-eleven and that’s where the whole ellee ven came from. It was like this magical thing, this new beginning. I sorta saw the idea that the eleven is like hanging out with people who are equal. You know, if you’re a number one and you’re your best, strong and tall, then stand next to someone who’s also strong and tall and together you’ll be indivisible. That whole visual we thought was cool and nobody had it. We made it sort of French by doubling the L’s and the E’s.

And it’s pronounced?

People always ask that (laughing), but it’s really pronounced phonetically the way it’s spelled. Ven r - Unsigned Music Magazine

A couple of years ago, ellee ven was a special guest contributor to Campus Circle’s Love Doc column, a forum wherein the romantically challenged seek guidance. The singer doled out advice to a guy who was being stalked by his girlfriend, a woman who had trust issues with all men and an unemployed dude who couldn’t afford to take his lady on a date.

Surprisingly, rather than telling these people to dump her, get a clue and get a job respectively, Ven offered each of the lovelorn real encouragement as an alternative to hopelessness. And that’s not a putting on of airs– it’s the way she lives and it has helped her through some bumps in her own life.

“One of the things that I’ve spiritually learned in my life is that you really do have to be responsible for your path. Along the line sometimes people will is communicate and it’s your job to make sense of it or call them on it,” she says. “You can’t be nice to me one minute then mean to me the other minute and expect me to have a clear vision of what this relationship is about.”

As she further explains her philosophy her voice cracks slightly and she hesitates a bit as she chooses her words carefully; it seems that she is reliving a particularly nasty scene from the past as she speaks. She might be thinking of her marriage that ended badly, an event that in a way was the catalyst that launched her music career.

“Music is so therapeutic. It’s a great outlet for me to express things in a healthy way instead of being angry. It’s somehow very healing.”

When Ven made her decision to step around the obstacles and live life to the fullest she had to do a little jiggling of the handle. First, she renamed herself. Born Jessica Kunin, Ven chose her stage name, often spelled without capital letters and run together as “elleeven” because of its affinity with the word eleven.

“I named myself elleeven because my favorite number is 11 based on the visuals of 11 – like aligning yourself with individuals who are equal in height and girth or just as motivated as you, just as intelligent as you, just as sincere as you, or whatever your qualities are so you can move forward together next to each other. Not bumping into each other, but walking the path together. And that’s what the whole ‘elleeven’ thing is supposed to mean.”

The attitude carries over into Ven’s music; she warns of "mismatched signals” where “we both get burned” in “Signals” where her vocals are beguilingly vulnerable against a rasher of stinging guitar. But the advice is stirred in delicately, like the beats and buoyant synth sounds that accentuate Ven’s sensual, often breathy work on her pop/dance/chill music. On “When” from her Mind Control album she duets with rapper Prodeje while “Heaven You Are In” from The Eleventh Hour finds her pretty voice enhanced by the beauty of fluent Spanish.

Ven releases all of her music (including five mixes of “You Can Own Me” on 12” vinyl) on her own label, Hot Sauce Records. The Hot Sauce logo will soon be gracing an intimate clothing line and Ven also is the driving force behind the annual charity event called Give into the Groove. It seems that if you just give her a minute, she’ll be involved in another good thing or two. Most of us are lucky just to enjoy her music, but if you ever meet elleeven and need some good advice, feel free to ask.

You Can Buy Me will be available April 10.

- Campus Circle

A couple of years ago, ellee ven was a special guest contributor to Campus Circle’s Love Doc column, a forum wherein the romantically challenged seek guidance. The singer doled out advice to a guy who was being stalked by his girlfriend, a woman who had trust issues with all men and an unemployed dude who couldn’t afford to take his lady on a date.

Surprisingly, rather than telling these people to dump her, get a clue and get a job respectively, Ven offered each of the lovelorn real encouragement as an alternative to hopelessness. And that’s not a putting on of airs– it’s the way she lives and it has helped her through some bumps in her own life.

“One of the things that I’ve spiritually learned in my life is that you really do have to be responsible for your path. Along the line sometimes people will is communicate and it’s your job to make sense of it or call them on it,” she says. “You can’t be nice to me one minute then mean to me the other minute and expect me to have a clear vision of what this relationship is about.”

As she further explains her philosophy her voice cracks slightly and she hesitates a bit as she chooses her words carefully; it seems that she is reliving a particularly nasty scene from the past as she speaks. She might be thinking of her marriage that ended badly, an event that in a way was the catalyst that launched her music career.

“Music is so therapeutic. It’s a great outlet for me to express things in a healthy way instead of being angry. It’s somehow very healing.”

When Ven made her decision to step around the obstacles and live life to the fullest she had to do a little jiggling of the handle. First, she renamed herself. Born Jessica Kunin, Ven chose her stage name, often spelled without capital letters and run together as “elleeven” because of its affinity with the word eleven.

“I named myself elleeven because my favorite number is 11 based on the visuals of 11 – like aligning yourself with individuals who are equal in height and girth or just as motivated as you, just as intelligent as you, just as sincere as you, or whatever your qualities are so you can move forward together next to each other. Not bumping into each other, but walking the path together. And that’s what the whole ‘elleeven’ thing is supposed to mean.”

The attitude carries over into Ven’s music; she warns of "mismatched signals” where “we both get burned” in “Signals” where her vocals are beguilingly vulnerable against a rasher of stinging guitar. But the advice is stirred in delicately, like the beats and buoyant synth sounds that accentuate Ven’s sensual, often breathy work on her pop/dance/chill music. On “When” from her Mind Control album she duets with rapper Prodeje while “Heaven You Are In” from The Eleventh Hour finds her pretty voice enhanced by the beauty of fluent Spanish.

Ven releases all of her music (including five mixes of “You Can Own Me” on 12” vinyl) on her own label, Hot Sauce Records. The Hot Sauce logo will soon be gracing an intimate clothing line and Ven also is the driving force behind the annual charity event called Give into the Groove. It seems that if you just give her a minute, she’ll be involved in another good thing or two. Most of us are lucky just to enjoy her music, but if you ever meet elleeven and need some good advice, feel free to ask.

You Can Buy Me will be available April 10.

- Campus Circle