In the bustling world of electronic music, few artists manage to carve a niche as unique as Elegie. With a background rooted in physics and programming, Elegie—also known as Elodie—has seamlessly merged her scientific acumen with her passion for music to create hypnotic, trance-inducing soundscapes. In a candid interview, she opens up about her journey from scientific pursuits to becoming a revered name in the progressive house and techno scenes.
Elegie, what first drew you to the world of electronic music amidst your scientific pursuits?
I needed an outlet for the music that was constantly playing in my head. I have always loved music but for a long time I couldn’t quite figure out what I could do with it, considering that there were some competing priorities in my life as well. But then finally I had a eureka moment: all I needed was a decent computer, a few plugins and a good pair of speakers to get started. It was truly meant to just be a hobby at the beginning, but the “problem\” with my “all-in or all-out” personality is that it quickly became quite an obsession. I’m also never completely satisfied and always want to improve – so what was originally a few hours per week rapidly became several hours every single day, blurring the distinction between workdays and weekdays. So here I am, managing two careers at the same time!
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Can you explain how your background in physics and programming influences your approach to creating music?
My scientific background has helped me develop resilience and a self-disciplined, highly organized mindset. Completing a PhD really helps you appreciate that everything worth doing takes time, and that getting recognition for quality work doesn’t happen overnight. It’s essential to dedicate enough time to honing your craft, and keeping at it even when things get difficult. Very few people truly appreciate how much it takes to develop a new skill – but you have to persevere and always keep your end goal in mind, while not forgetting to enjoy yourself and trust the process.
On the technical side, I have originally trained in physics, so if you want to discuss sound waves, harmonics, and resonance for hours, you’ll have my full attention. I actually really enjoy getting into all the theory behind it, though if I get too wrapped up it sometimes slows me down and gets in the way of simply having fun with the sound. I have to be careful not to fall down this rabbit hole!
Your music often takes listeners on an \”ethereal journey.\” What’s the story you aim to tell through your tracks?
For me it’s not so much about the story, but more about the feelings I want to evoke in the audience. I’ve always enjoyed hypnotic, trance-inducing sounds the most – the ones that could move an entire dancefloor at the same time. So through my work, I aim to create an atmosphere that would envelop you in an immersive soundscape, coupled with club-shaking rhythms that would send you into a pulsating trance state! During these late-night sets I’m usually going for deep, moody, darker vibes, which only progressive sounds can deliver.
What attracted you to remix \”In This Shirt\” by The Irrepressibles? What personal touch did you aim to infuse into this track?
“In this Shirt” is one of my favorite songs of all time, so I decided to make it a tribute to my English bulldog Edgy, who suddenly passed away two years ago. I was completely heartbroken and needed an outlet for my feelings… I used some specific lyrics which resonated deeply with me, and leveraged parts of the original melody to create my own story. I also aimed to produce a melodic techno version of it, to really put an Elegie spin on it. To my knowledge, nobody has tried to remix it in this genre before – most likely because the original bpm of this track was something around 160, so making it work at 126 bpm was a whole challenge by itself. But this version has created a dynamic new spin on the original, as it has floor-focused interpretation which has the potential to really resonate in a club environment.
You’ve been described as someone who defies easy classification. How important is nonconformity to you in your music and personal style?
It really is important to me, and definitely not for the sake of just being different. In my mind, it’s intrinsically linked to being true to yourself. When you do this consistently, it may create a perception of “nonconformity”, which can have negative connotations, but it comes down to just being honest with yourself and others. I’m a very straight shooter so I’m definitely not everyone’s cup of tea – but what you see is what you get, no surprises here!
Regarding music, while I keenly observe and respect the current trends in melodic house and techno, I prefer leveraging certain elements of those trends rather than following them blindly. It becomes harder to stand out if you’re just doing what everybody else is already doing but more importantly, it might negatively impact your creative process altogether. I would be afraid to lose my creative identity and what I’ve been trying to express through my music, and I don’t think I would enjoy the process as much if I wasn’t staying true to who I am. It might be a riskier approach to success but it fits me better.
You\’ve rocked stages from underground clubs to major venues in San Francisco. Do you have a favorite place to perform?
Audio SF has been my absolute favorite so far. It’s not only such an institution in San Francisco, but it also has an amazing sound and lighting system, and their staff is a joy to work with. It’s also a medium sized club, so it can welcome a lot of people while still preserving intimacy and allowing a good connection with the crowd. Audio SF was also the first place I played when I arrived in San Francisco. It shows up as “The Edgy nightclub” on Google Maps, which is coincidentally the name of my English Bulldog, who only passed away a few months before this gig. When I saw this, it made me tear up, because it seemed like such a clear sign from her… Because of all this, Audio SF will always hold a special place in my heart!
Are there new directions or styles you’re experimenting with in your upcoming music?
I’m currently working on two original tracks which incorporate original lyrics and vocals – a first for me! This is definitely a learning process, but of course I can’t wait to see the results. At the same time, I’m also exploring software development with the idea to eventually be able to build my own plugins. I’m not sure how well this project will go but regardless of the outcome, I’m really enjoying the intellectual journey into a completely new field.
How has Edgy, your beloved bulldog, inspired your music and life?
This is a very sensitive topic for me, as I still love Edgy so much… She was my first dog, and before meeting her I would have never imagined forming such a deep and lasting bond with “just a dog”. You really can’t understand this until you’ve experienced it, so I don’t necessarily expect everyone to get what I’m trying to convey here… Edgy was pure joy for anyone who crossed her path – even the non-bulldog fans were instantly converted. She was very tough and brave, but also the sweetest, most polite girl at the same time. She taught me some really important lessons in life – from unconditional love to being more present in the moment. After all, a day in a dog’s life is equivalent to one human week, so there is no time to waste! She has become an integral part of my music early on as she would always stay by my side in the studio. I can still feel her presence everywhere around me, which helped me overcome this difficult period of sudden loss. “Elegie” is in fact the combination of “Elodie” (my real name) and “Edgy”. The loss of Edgy ended up giving a bigger purpose to the Elegie project, as ultimately I’d like to use the proceeds from my music to support bulldog rescues and charities, to celebrate my enduring bond with her.
What are your main goals for the next five years, both musically and personally?
Production-wise, my goals over the next 5 years are to work really hard on improving my technical skills, so that I could genuinely consider completely changing my current career trajectory. These days it means always trying to think about something A.I. wouldn\’t do. I am also preparing a live performance combining digital/analog synths or other hardware.
For someone new to your music, which track would you recommend they listen to first and why?
I would recommend listening to “Born Slippy”. While it is a remix of a famous Underworld track, I only used the vocals and some chords of the original song to make the connection – the rest is completely new. It was a bit of a bold move as this song has been remixed quite a few times already, but I have listened to the “Trainspotting” soundtrack so many times, it was difficult for me to resist. It ended up receiving incredible feedback from the audiences and other fellow DJs, maintaining #1 position on the Melodic Deep SoundCloud channel for weeks – so I’m glad I followed my instinct on this one! This track is also a bit more on the techno side of my work, evoking the underground and warehouse vibes that I really like, and gives the listener a sneak peak of the different genres I enjoy producing depending on my inspiration, mood and feelings.