About
Acoustic singer/guitarist Elie Rees combines a rare fragility
and strength in her raw, emotive song writing. Her punk sensibilities lend her performances and writing an edge; pouring heart and soul into her words, bristling with survivor anger, fight and pain. There is universality in the feelings expressed in her lyrics which speaks directly to listeners, looks them square in the eye, holds their gaze and hooks them in with catchy pop-tinged melodies and an assured musicality. Elie’s personal journey to recovery has inspired her to create a body of work which aims to uplift and rebuild women. Her music is a maelstrom of honesty and soul; at once edgy, energising and inspiring.
An evening in Elie’s musical company takes audiences on an emotional journey through her new repertoire from latest album Gold Dirt (GingerDog 2019): a rallying cry to find light in the darkness.
Her original song-writing to the fore, she uses folk style narrative lyrics with percussive acoustic guitar arrangements to build her set from sparsely presented songs of hurt and resolution to more high-octane, swirling heart-on-sleeve anthems.
“ELIE SINGS WITH GREAT FEEL AND EMOTION, THEN HITS YOU WITH SOME PUNK ATTITUDE…GREAT!”
— Jon Board, Programming & Operations Director, Bassment, Chelmsford
After many years of grounding in folk and jazz as a flute player, Rees turned to songwriting and performing in 2013, to expand her creative horizons and, like many artists, to explore her own traumatic experiences in writing, possibly “the most relatable thing I could write about.” Working as a solo performer and composer since the very first song Rees has honed her art and garnered a reputation as a powerful and engaging performer, reaching the finals of Essex’s popular Undiscovered Music Competition. Her debut full-length album, Gold Dirt, went to number 5 in the iTunes singer/songwriter chart. Elie is currently working on a new album ‘Fen Woman’ which is an exciting Help Musicians funded project. On this album Elie is delving further into her folk roots, researching songs about women from the past and reflecting on how times have changed for women, and how they haven’t, in a collection of new and old songs. Since 2019 Rees has been working with SKC games studio who have commissioned many original songs for their upcoming ‘project Taradene’. This has been such a successful working and creative relationship the Elie is now working part time as the Music Director at SKC as well as performing and writing other commissions.
“Talented singer/songwriter Elie Rees really gets to the heart of the matter in her songs. She takes you on her personal journey in which the listener, most definitely, will relate to in some way. Honest and heartfelt while at the same time touching on the edgy and raw. Look out for Elie Rees, this girl is going somewhere!!!!!” Anita Wardell, Jazz vocalist
"As a new, but small music venue, Elie is a delight to host - her stunning vocals coupled with her guitar playing talent, her delightful music fills the bar perfectly and makes for a brilliant evening of entertainment. Thank you, Elie!" Alison McCormack The Boathouse Cafe and Bar, Barking.